brake fluid YAMAHA GRIZZLY 550 2012 Owners Manual

Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-5
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-17
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER ................................................... 7-18
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-21
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-23
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1 Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system ........................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ......................................................... 8-5 Removing and installing panels ................8-10
Removing the radiator grills ......................8-20
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-20
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ................8-22
Final gear oil .............................................8-27
Differential gear oil ....................................8-29
Coolant .....................................................8-32
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-39
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-42
V-belt case drain plug ...............................8-44
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-45
Valve clearance ........................................8-46
Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable ...........................................8-46
Brakes .......................................................8-46
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-46
Checking the rear brake hose protectors ................................................8-47
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-48
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-49
Checking the front and rear brake lever free play ..................................................8-50
Adjusting the brake pedal free play ..........8-50
Axle boots .................................................8-52
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-53
Checking and lubricating the front and rear brake levers .....................................8-53
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3
EBU17712Controls and instruments
TIPThe ATV you have purchased may differ slightly
from the figures shown in this manual.
1. Drive select lever
2. Rear brake lever
3. Handlebar switches
4. Horn switch
5. Rear brake fluid reservoir
6. Multi-function display
7. Front brake fluid reservoir
8. On-Command four-wheel-drive/differential gear lock switch
9. Front brake lever
10.Throttle lever
11.Front storage compartment
12.Main switch
13.Auxiliary DC jackU1HS60E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

5-2
5
Front brake
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-46, 8-48, 8-50
Rear brake 
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check pedal free play, and adjust if necessary.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-46, 8-48, 8-50,
8-50
Throttle lever 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-4, 8-45
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-53
Wheels and tires 
Check wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
 Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
 Check air pressure. Correct if necessary. 5-4
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-54
Brake levers 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary. 8-53
Axle boots Check for cracks or damage, and replace if necessary. 8-52
Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches 
Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-16.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-22.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-27.)EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-29.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-32.)
TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.EBU29082Front and rear brakes Brake levers and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the front and
rear brake levers. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Check for correct free play in the brake pedal. If
the free play is incorrect, adjust it. (See page
8-50.)
Check the operation of the brake levers and
pedal. They should move smoothly and there
should be a firm feeling when the brakes are ap-
plied. If not, have a Yamaha dealer check the
brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-48.)
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5-4
5
Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If a lever moves slow-
ly inward, there may be a leak in the brake system.
If there is any leakage, the brake system should be
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
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, check
the brake pads for wear. (See page 8-46.)
EBU19761Throttle lever Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.
EBU19814Tires Check tire pressure regularly to make sure it is at
the recommended specifications. Also check for
wear and damage.
Tire pressure
Use the low-pressure tire gauge to check and ad-
just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.
WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with im- proper tire pressure may cause severe injury
or death from loss of control or rollover. Tire
pressure below the minimum specified could
also cause the tire to dislodge from the rim un-
der severe riding conditions.
[EWB02541]
Set tire
pressures to the following specifications:
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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8-5
8
EBU21865General maintenance and lubrication chart TIP
For ATVs not equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the month maintenance intervals.
For ATVs equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the km (mi) or hours maintenance inter-
vals. However, keep in mind that if the ATV isn’t used for a long period of time, the month maintenance
intervals should be followed.
Items marked with an asterisk should be performed by a Yamaha dealer as they require special tools,
data and technical skills.NO. ITEM CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
1 Air filter element Clean and replace if necessary. Every 20
–40 hours (more often in wet or
dusty areas)
2 *Front brake 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
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8
3*Rear brake 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check brake pedal free play and adjust if neces-
sary.
 Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
4 *Brake hoses 
Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√√
 Replace. Every 4 years
5 *Rear brake hose
protectors 
Check for wear, cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √√√√√
6 *Wheels 
Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
7 *Tires 
Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
 Check air pressure and balance, and correct if
necessary. √ √√√
8 *Wheel hub bearings 
Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
9 *V- b e l t 
Check for wear, cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √ √√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
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EBU23071TIP
Some maintenance items need more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet, dusty, sandy or
muddy areas, or at full-throttle.
Hydraulic brake service
Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid level.
 Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and
change the brake fluid.
 Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.
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8
EBU29841Checking the brake fluid level Before riding, check that the brake fluid is above
the minimum level mark. Check the brake fluid lev-
el with the top of the reservoir level. Replenish the
brake fluid if necessary.Front brake
Rear brake1. Rear brake hose protector
2. Wear indicator
3. Protector is normal.
4. Protector is worn.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
2WD
4WD
1
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8
WARNING
EWB02720Improper maintenance can result in loss of
braking ability. Observe these precautions:
Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to enter
the brake system, reducing braking perfor-
mance.
Clean the filler cap before removing. Use
only DOT 4 brake fluid from a sealed contain-
er.
Use only the specified brake fluid; otherwise,
the rubber seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage.
Refill with the same type of brake fluid. Add-
ing a brake fluid other than DOT 4 may result
in a harmful chemical reaction.
Be careful that water does not enter the
brake fluid reservoir when refilling. Water
will significantly lower the boiling point of
the fluid and may result in vapor lock.
NOTICEECB01160Brake fluid may damage painted surfaces or
plastic parts. Always clean up spilled fluid im-
mediately.As the brake pads wear, it is normal for the brake
fluid level to gradually go down. A low brake fluid
level may indicate worn brake pads and/or brake
system leakage; therefore, be sure to check the
brake pads for wear and the brake system for leak-
age. If the brake fluid level goes down suddenly,
have a Yamaha dealer check the cause before fur-
ther riding.EBU24291Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the brake fluid at
the intervals specified in the TIP after the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart. In addition,
have the oil seals of the master cylinders and cali-
pers as well as the brake hoses replaced at the in-
tervals listed below or whenever they are damaged
or leaking.
Oil seals: Replace every two years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four years.
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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