YAMAHA XVS250 2004 Workshop Manual

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-18
6 Brake pedal free play
The brake pedal free play should mea-
sure 20.0–30.0 mm (0.79–1.18 in) at
the brake pedal end. Periodically check
the brake pedal free play and, if neces-
sary, adjust it as follows.
To increase the brake pedal free play,
turn the adjusting nut at the brake rod in
direction (a). To decrease the brake
pedal free play, turn the adjusting nut in
direction (b).
WARNING
EWA10680


After adjusting the drive chain
slack or removing and installing
the rear wheel, always check the
brake pedal free play.


If proper adjustment cannot be
obtained as described, have a
Yamaha dealer make this ad-
justment.


After adjusting the brake pedal
free play, check the operation ofthe brake light.
EAU22270
Adjusting the rear brake light
switch The rear brake light switch, which is ac-
tivated by the brake pedal, is properly
adjusted when the brake light comes
on just before braking takes effect. If
necessary, adjust the brake light switch
as follows.
Turn the adjusting nut while holding the
rear brake light switch in place. To
make the brake light come on earlier,
turn the adjusting nut in direction (a). To
make the brake light come on later, turn
the adjusting nut in direction (b).
1. Brake pedal free play adjusting nut
1. Rear brake light switch
2. Rear brake light switch adjusting nut
5KRE2.book Page 18 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-19
6
EAU22380
Checking the front brake pads
and rear brake shoes The front brake pads and the rear brake
shoes must be checked for wear at the
intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.
EAU22420
Front brake pads
Each front brake pad is provided with a
wear indicator groove, which allows
you to check the brake pad wear with-
out having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check
the wear indicator groove. If a brake
pad has worn to the point that the wearindicator groove has almost disap-
peared, have a Yamaha dealer replace
the brake pads as a set.
EAU22540
Rear brake shoes
The rear brake is provided with a wear
indicator, which allows you to check the
brake shoe wear without having to dis-
assemble the brake. To check the
brake shoe wear, check the position of
the wear indicator while applying the
brake. If a brake shoe has worn to the
point that the wear indicator reaches
the wear limit line, have a Yamaha
dealer replace the brake shoes as a
set.
EAU32341
Checking the brake fluid level Front brake
Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to
enter the brake system, possibly caus-
ing it to become ineffective.
Before riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark and
replenish if necessary. A low brake fluid
level may indicate worn brake pads
and/or brake system leakage. If the
brake fluid level is low, be sure to check
the brake pads for wear and the brake
system for leakage.
Observe these precautions:
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
1. Brake shoe wear limit line
2. Brake shoe wear indicator
1. Minimum level mark
5KRE2.book Page 19 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-20
6


When checking the fluid level,
make sure that the top of the mas-
ter cylinder is level by turning the
handlebars.


Use only the recommended quality
brake fluid, otherwise the rubber
seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage and poor braking perfor-
mance.


Refill with the same type of brake
fluid. Mixing fluids may result in a
harmful chemical reaction and
lead to poor braking performance.


Be careful that water does not en-
ter the master cylinder when refill-
ing. Water will significantly lower
the boiling point of the fluid and
may result in vapor lock.


Brake fluid may deteriorate paint-
ed surfaces or plastic parts. Al-
ways clean up spilled fluid
immediately.


As the brake pads wear, it is nor-
mal for the brake fluid level to grad-
ually go down. However, if thebrake fluid level goes down sud-
denly, have a Yamaha dealer
check the cause.
EAU22720
Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the
brake fluid at the intervals specified in
the NOTE after the periodic mainte-
nance and lubrication chart. In addition,
have the oil seals of the brake master
cylinder and caliper as well as the
brake hose replaced at the intervals
listed below or whenever they are dam-
aged or leaking.

Oil seals: Replace every two
years.


Brake hose: Replace every four
years.
Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
5KRE2.book Page 20 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-21
6
EAU22760
Drive chain slack The drive chain slack should be
checked before each ride and adjusted
if necessary.
EAU22770
To check the drive chain slack
1. Place the motorcycle on a level
surface and hold it in an upright po-
sition.NOTE:When checking and adjusting the drive
chain slack, the motorcycle should be
positioned straight up and there shouldbe no weight on it.
2. Shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position.
3. Move the rear wheel by pushing
the motorcycle to locate the tight-
est portion of the drive chain, and
then measure the drive chain slack
as shown.4. If the drive chain slack is incorrect,
adjust it as follows.
EAU22821
To adjust the drive chain slack
1. Loosen the brake pedal free play
adjusting nut, axle nut, and locknut
at each end of the swingarm.2. To tighten the drive chain, turn the
adjusting nut at each end of the
swingarm in direction (a). To loos-
en the drive chain, turn the adjust-
ing nut at each end of the
swingarm in direction (b), and then
push the rear wheel forward.
NOTE:Using the alignment marks on each
side of the swingarm, make sure that
both adjusting nuts are in the same po-sition for proper wheel alignment.
Drive chain slack:
30.0–40.0 mm (1.18–1.57 in)
1. Drive chain slack
1. Axle nut
2. Locknut
3. Brake pedal free play adjusting nut
5KRE2.book Page 21 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-22
6
CAUTION:
ECA10570
Improper drive chain slack will over-
load the engine as well as other vital
parts of the motorcycle and can lead
to chain slippage or breakage. To
prevent this from occurring, keep
the drive chain slack within thespecified limits.
3. Tighten both locknuts and the axle
nut to the specified torques.4. Adjust the brake pedal free play.
(See page 6-17.)
WARNING
EWA10660
After adjusting the brake pedal free
play, check the operation of thebrake light.
EAU23020
Lubricating the drive chain The drive chain must be cleaned and
lubricated at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart, otherwise it will quickly wear
out, especially when riding in dusty or
wet areas. Service the drive chain as
follows.CAUTION:
ECA10580
The drive chain must be lubricated
after washing the motorcycle orriding in the rain.
1. Clean the drive chain with kero-
sene and a small soft brush.CAUTION:
ECA11120
To prevent damaging the O-rings, do
not clean the drive chain with steam
cleaners, high-pressure washers orinappropriate solvents.
2. Wipe the drive chain dry.
3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive
chain with a special O-ring chain
lubricant.
1. Alignment marks
2. Drive chain slack adjusting nut
3. Locknut
Tightening torques:
Locknut:
16 Nm (1.6 m·kgf, 12 ft·lbf)
Axle nut:
104 Nm (10.4 m·kgf, 75 ft·lbf)
5KRE2.book Page 22 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-23
6
CAUTION:
ECA11110
Do not use engine oil or any other lu-
bricants for the drive chain, as they
may contain substances that coulddamage the O-rings.
EAU23100
Checking and lubricating the
cables The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubricat-
ed if necessary. If a cable is damaged
or does not move smoothly, have a
Yamaha dealer check or replace it.
WARNING
EWA10720
Damage to the outer sheath may in-
terfere with proper cable operation
and will cause the inner cable to
rust. Replace a damaged cable as
soon as possible to prevent unsafeconditions.
EAU23110
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable The operation of the throttle grip should
be checked before each ride. In addi-
tion, the cable should be lubricated or
replaced at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance chart.
Recommended lubricant:
Engine oil
5KRE2.book Page 23 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-24
6
EAU23131
Checking and lubricating the
brake and shift pedals The operation of the brake and shift
pedals should be checked before each
ride, and the pedal pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
EAU23140
Checking and lubricating the
brake and clutch levers The operation of the brake and clutch
levers should be checked before each
ride, and the lever pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
EAU23200
Checking and lubricating the
sidestand The operation of the sidestand should
be checked before each ride, and the
sidestand pivot and metal-to-metal
contact surfaces should be lubricated if
necessary.
WARNING
EWA10730
If the sidestand does not move up
and down smoothly, have a Yamahadealer check or repair it.
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease (all-pur-
pose grease)
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease (all-pur-
pose grease)
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease (all-pur-
pose grease)
5KRE2.book Page 24 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-25
6
EAU23271
Checking the front fork The condition and operation of the front
fork must be checked as follows at the
intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.
To check the condition
WARNING
EWA10750
Securely support the vehicle so thatthere is no danger of it falling over.
Check the inner tubes for scratches,
damage and excessive oil leakage.
To check the operation
1. Place the vehicle on a level sur-
face and hold it in an upright posi-
tion.
2. While applying the front brake,
push down hard on the handlebars
several times to check if the front
fork compresses and rebounds
smoothly.
CAUTION:
ECA10590
If any damage is found or the front
fork does not operate smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-pair it.
EAU23280
Checking the steering Worn or loose steering bearings may
cause danger. Therefore, the operation
of the steering must be checked as fol-
lows at the intervals specified in the pe-
riodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
1. Place a stand under the engine to
raise the front wheel off the
ground.
WARNING
EWA10750
Securely support the vehicle so thatthere is no danger of it falling over.
2. Hold the lower ends of the front
fork legs and try to move them for-
ward and backward. If any free
play can be felt, have a Yamaha
dealer check or repair the steering.
5KRE2.book Page 25 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-26
6
EAU23290
Checking the wheel bearings The front and rear wheel bearings must
be checked at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart. If there is play in the wheel
hub or if the wheel does not turn
smoothly, have a Yamaha dealer check
the wheel bearings.
EAU23380
Battery The battery is located behind panel A.
(See page 6-5.)
This model is equipped with a sealed-
type (MF) battery, which does not re-
quire any maintenance. There is no
need to check the electrolyte or to add
distilled water.CAUTION:
ECA10620
Never attempt to remove the battery
cell seals, as this would permanent-ly damage the battery.1. Battery
5KRE2.book Page 26 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-27
6
WARNING
EWA10760


Electrolyte is poisonous and
dangerous since it contains sul-
furic acid, which causes severe
burns. Avoid any contact with
skin, eyes or clothing and al-
ways shield your eyes when
working near batteries. In case
of contact, administer the fol-
lowing FIRST AID.
EXTERNAL: Flush with plenty
of water.
INTERNAL: Drink large quan-
tities of water or milk and im-
mediately call a physician.
EYES: Flush with water for 15
minutes and seek prompt
medical attention.


Batteries produce explosive hy-
drogen gas. Therefore, keep
sparks, flames, cigarettes, etc.,
away from the battery and pro-
vide sufficient ventilation when
charging it in an enclosed
space.


KEEP THIS AND ALL BATTER-
IES OUT OF THE REACH OFCHILDREN.
To charge the battery
Have a Yamaha dealer charge the bat-
tery as soon as possible if it seems to
have discharged. Keep in mind that the
battery tends to discharge more quickly
if the vehicle is equipped with optional
electrical accessories.
To store the battery
1. If the vehicle will not be used for
more than one month, remove the
battery, fully charge it, and then
place it in a cool, dry place.
2. If the battery will be stored for more
than two months, check it at least
once a month and fully charge it if
necessary.
3. Fully charge the battery before in-
stallation.
4. After installation, make sure that
the battery leads are properly con-
nected to the battery terminals.
CAUTION:
ECA10630


Always keep the battery
charged. Storing a discharged
battery can cause permanent
battery damage.


To charge a sealed-type (MF)
battery, a special (constant-volt-
age) battery charger is required.
Using a conventional battery
charger will damage the battery.
If you do not have access to a
sealed-type (MF) battery charg-
er, have a Yamaha dealercharge your battery.
5KRE2.book Page 27 Monday, June 23, 2003 3:32 PM