brake YAMAHA BEAR TRACKER 250 2003 User Guide

5-5
EBU01091
Front and rear brakes
Brake levers and brake pedal
Check for correct free play in the brake levers and
brake pedal. If the free play is incorrect, adjust it.
(See pages 8-49–8-55.)
Check operation of the levers and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a firm
feeling when the brake is applied. If not, have a
Yamaha dealer inspect the brake system.
Brake fluid level (front brake)
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See pages 8-45–8-47.)
Brake fluid leakage (front brake)
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
hose, joint or brake fluid reservoir of the front
brake. Apply the brake firmly for one minute. If the
lever moves slowly inward, there may be a leak in
the brake system. If there is any leakage, the
brake system should be inspected by a Yamaha
dealer.Recommended brake fluid: DOT 4
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5-7
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, in-
spect the brakes for wear. (See page 8-43.)
WARNING
Always check the brakes at the start of every
ride. Do not ride the ATV if you find any prob-
lem with the brakes or you could lose braking
ability, which could lead to an accident. If a
problem cannot be corrected by the adjust-
ment procedures provided in this manual,
have a Yamaha dealer check for the cause.
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5-19
EBU00152
Fittings and Fasteners
Always check the tightness of chassis fittings and
fasteners before a ride. Take the machine to a
Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service Manual for
correct tightening torque.
EBU00991
Lights
Check the headlights and tail/brake light to make
sure they are in working condition. Repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.
EBU01082
Switches
Check the operation of all switches. Repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.
EBU00499
Battery
Check fluid level and fill if necessary. Use only dis-
tilled water if refilling is necessary. (See pages
8-69–8-75.)
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6-3
EBU00501
Starting a cold engine
WARNING
Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-
dent or collision. 1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON” and the engine
stop switch to “RUN”.
4. Shift the transmission into neutral.
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6-5 1. Fully open 2. Half open
3. Closed a. Starter (choke)
1. Complètement ouvert 2. Mi-ouvert
3. Ferméa. Starter (enrichisseur)
1. Abre completamente 2. Semiabierto
3. Cerrado a. Starter (choke)
NOTE:

When the transmission is in neutral, the neu-
tral indicator light should come on. If the light
does not come on, ask a Yamaha dealer to
inspect it.


The engine can be started in any gear if the
rear brake lever is applied. However, it is rec-
ommended to shift into neutral before starting
the engine.
_5. Use the starter (choke) in reference to the fig-
ure:
Position
1: Cold engine start-ambient tempera-
ture below 5°C.
Position
2: Cold engine start-ambient tempera-
ture at 0°C–30°C and warming up
position.
Position
3: Cold engine start-ambient tempera-
ture above 25°C and warm engine
start position.
6. Completely close the throttle lever and start
the engine by pushing the start switch.
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6-11 1. Drive select lever
2. Lock release button
a. Foward
b. Reverse
1. Levier de présélection
2. Bouton de déblocage
a. Marche avant
b. Marche arrière
1. Palanca de selección de gama
2. Botón de desbloqueo
a. Marcha adelante
b. Marcha atrás
EBU00186
Drive select lever operation and reverse
drivingCAUTION:
Before shifting, stop the machine and return
the throttle lever to its closed position. Other-
wise the transmission may be damaged.NOTE:When shifting into reverse, the transmission must
be in first gear.1. Bring the machine to a complete stop and re-
turn the throttle lever to the closed position.
2. Apply the rear brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into first gear.
4. While pulling the lock release button, move
the drive select lever toward the rear until it
completely stops.NOTE:When in reverse, the reverse indicator light should
be on. If the light does not come on, ask a Yamaha
dealer to inspect the machine.
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6-13
5. Check behind you for people or obstacles,
then release the rear brake pedal.
6. Open the throttle lever gradually and contin-
ue to watch to the rear while backing.
WARNING
Improper operation in reverse could make you
hit an obstacle or person behind you, resulting
in serious injury. When you shift into reverse,
make sure there are no obstacles or people be-
hind you. When it is safe to proceed, go slowly.
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6-19
EBU00208
To decelerate:
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shift-
ing can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing
control and increasing the possibility of an acci-
dent.
WARNING
Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating. This
could cause loss of control, an accident and
injury. It could also cause engine or drive train
damage.
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6-23 1. Lock plate
1. Verrou
1. Placa de bloqueo
1. 0–10 hours:
Avoid continuous operation above half throt-
tle. Allow a cooling off period of five to ten
minutes after every hour of operation. Vary
the speed of the machine from time to time.
Do not operate it at one set throttle position.
2. 10–20 hours:
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle.
Rev the machine freely through the gears but
do not use full throttle at any time.
3. After break-in:
Avoid prolonged full throttle operation. Vary
speeds occasionally.
EBU00211
Parking
When parking, stop the engine and shift into neu-
tral. Turn the fuel cock to “OFF” and apply the
parking brake.
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6-25
EBU00220
Parking on a slope
WARNING
Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, put the machine in low gear, apply the
parking brake, and block the front and rear
wheels with rocks or other objects.
Do not park the ATV at all on hills that are so
steep you could not walk up them easily.1. Bring the machine to a stop by applying the
brakes in low gear.
2. Stop the engine.
3. With the rear brake lever and pedal applied,
apply the parking brake and slowly release
the rear brake pedal.
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