YAMAHA VMAX 2016 Owners Manual

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-36
6
1. Remove the headlight unit by re-
moving the bolts.
2. Disconnect the headlight coupler, and then remove the bulb cover. 3. Unhook the headlight bulb holder,
and then remove the burnt-out
bulb.
4. Place a new headlight bulb into position, and then secure it with
the bulb holder. 5. Install the headlight bulb cover,
and then connect the coupler.
6. Install the headlight unit by install- ing the bolts.
7. Have a Yamaha dealer adjust the headlight beam if necessary.
1. Do not touch the glass part of the bulb.
1. Bolt
1
1
1. Headlight coupler
2. Headlight bulb cover
1. Headlight bulb holder
1
2
1
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-37
6
EAU46405
Replacin g the auxiliary li ght
b ul bIf the auxiliary light bulb burns out, re-
place it as follows.
1. Remove the headlight unit. (See page 6-35.)
2. Remove the auxiliary light bulb socket (together with the bulb) by
turning it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the burnt-out bulb by pulling it out of the socket. 4. Insert a new bulb into the socket.
5. Install the socket (together with
the bulb) by turning it clockwise.
6. Install the headlight unit.
EAU70540
Brake/tail li ghtThis model is equipped with an LED-
type brake/tail light.
If the brake/tail light does not come on,
have a Yamaha dealer check it.
1. Auxiliary light bulb socket
1
1. Auxiliary light bulb
1
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-38
6
EAU24205
Replacin g a turn sig nal light
b ul b1. Remove the turn signal light lens
by removing the screw.
2. Remove the burnt-out bulb by pushing it in and turning it coun-
terclockwise. 3. Insert a new bulb into the socket,
push it in, and then turn it clock-
wise until it stops.
4. Install the lens by installing the screw. NOTICE: Do not over-
ti g hten the screw, otherwise the
lens may break.
[ECA11192] EAU50453
Replacin
g a license plate li ght
b ul b1. Remove the holding plate by re-
moving the bolts.
2. Remove the license plate light unit bolts.
1. Screw
2. Turn signal light lens
1
2
1. Turn signal light bulb
1
1. Holding plate
2. Bolt
12
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-39
6 3. Pull the license plate light unit out-
ward as shown to access the bulb
and its socket. 4. Remove the license plate light
bulb socket (together with the
bulb) by turning it counterclock-
wise, and then pulling it out.
5. Remove the burnt-out bulb by pulling it out.
6. Insert a new bulb into the socket.
7. Install the socket (together with the bulb) by pushing it in, and then
turning it clockwise until it stops.
8. Place the license plate light unit in the original position, and then in-
stall the bolts.
9. Install the holding plate by install- ing the bolts.
EAU24351
Supportin g the motorcycleSince this model is not equipped with a
centerstand, follow these precautions
when removing the front and rear
wheel or performing other mainte-
nance requiring the motorcycle to
stand upright. Check that the motorcy-
cle is in a stable and level position be-
fore starting any maintenance. A
strong wooden box can be placed un-
der the engine for added stability.
To service the front wheel
1. Stabilize the rear of the motorcy- cle by using a motorcycle stand
or, if an additional motorcycle
stand is not available, by placing a
jack under the frame in front of the
rear wheel.
2. Raise the front wheel off the ground by using a motorcycle
stand.
To service the rear wheel
Raise the rear wheel off the ground by
using a motorcycle stand or, if a motor-
cycle stand is not available, by placing
1. License plate light unit bolt
2. License plate light unit
1. License plate light bulb socket
2. License plate light unit
1
2
12
1. License plate light bulb
1
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-40
6
a jack either under each side of the
frame in front of the rear wheel or under
each side of the swingarm.
EAU25872
Trou
bleshootin gAlthough Yamaha motorcycles receive
a thorough inspection before shipment
from the factory, trouble may occur
during operation. Any problem in the
fuel, compression, or ignition systems,
for example, can cause poor starting
and loss of power.
The following troubleshooting charts
represent quick and easy procedures
for checking these vital systems your-
self. However, should your motorcycle
require any repair, take it to a Yamaha
dealer, whose skilled technicians have
the necessary tools, experience, and
know-how to service the motorcycle
properly.
Use only genuine Yamaha replace-
ment parts. Imitation parts may look
like Yamaha parts, but they are often
inferior, have a shorter service life and
can lead to expensive repair bills.
WARNING
EWA15142
When checkin g the fuel system, d o
not smoke, an d make sure there are
no open flames or sparks in the ar-
ea, inclu din g pilot li ghts from water heaters or furnaces. Gasoline or
g
asoline vapors can i gnite or ex-
plo de, causin g severe injury or prop-
erty damag e.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-41
6
EAU63200
Trou bleshootin g chartsStartin g pro blems or poor en gine performance
Check the fuel level in
the fuel tank.1. Fuel
There is enough fuel.
There is no fuel.
Check the battery.
Supply fuel.
The engine does not start.
Check the battery.
Operate the electric starter.4. Compression
There is compression.
There is no compression.
Have a Yamaha dealer check the vehicle. The engine does not start.
Have a Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.
Remove the spark plugs
and check the electrodes.3. Ignition
Wipe off with a dry cloth or replace the
spark plugs.
Have a Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.
The engine does not start.
Check the compression.
The engine does not start.
Check the ignition.
Operate the electric starter.2. Battery
The engine turns over
quickly.
The engine turns over
slowly.
The battery is good.Check the battery lead connections,
and have a Yamaha dealer charge
the battery if necessary.
DryWet
Operate the electric starter.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-42
6
En
gine overheatin g
WARNING
EWAT1041
Do not remove the ra diator cap when the en gine an d ra diator are hot. Scal din g hot flui d an d steam may be
b lown out un der pressure, which coul d cause serious injury. Be sure to wait until the en gine has coole d.
 Place a thick rag , like a towel, over the ra diator cap, an d then slowly rotate the cap counterclockwise to the
d etent to allow any resi dual pressure to escape. When the hissin g soun d has stopped , press down on the cap
while turnin g it counterclockwise, an d then remove the cap.TIPIf coolant is not available, tap water can be temporarily used instead, provided that it is changed to the recommended cool-
ant as soon as possible.
Wait until the
engine has cooled.
Check the coolant level in the
reservoir and radiator.
The coolant level
is OK.The coolant level is low.
Check the cooling system
for leakage.
Have a Yamaha dealer checkand repair the cooling system.Add coolant. (See TIP.)
Start the engine. If the engine overheats again,
have a
Yamaha dealer check
and repair the cooling system.
There is
leakage.
There is
no leakage.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-1
7
EAU37834
Matte color cautionNOTICE
ECA15193
Some mo dels are equipped with
matte colore d finishe d parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha d ealer for
a d vice on what prod ucts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical prod ucts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applied to any matte colore d fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU46411
CareWhile the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a mo-
torcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its
life and optimize its performance.
Before cleanin g
1. Cover the muffler outlets with a plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and cov- ers as well as all electrical cou-
plers and connectors, including
the spark plug caps, are tightly in-
stalled.
3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt, like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod- ucts onto seals, gaskets and
wheel axles. Always rinse the dirt
and degreaser off with water.
Cleanin g
NOTICE
ECA10773
Avoi d using strong aci dic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoke d
wheels. If such prod ucts are
use d on har d-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
fected area any lon ger than in-
structed . Also, thorou ghly rinse
the area off with water, imme di-
ately dry it, an d then apply a cor-
rosion protection spray.
 Improper cleanin g can d amage
plastic parts (such as cowlin gs,
panels, win dshiel ds, hea dlig ht
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) an d
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or spon ge with wa-
ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot b e thor-
ou ghly cleaned with water, di-
lute d mil d d eter gent with water
may be used . Be sure to rinse
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-2
7
off any
deter gent resi due usin g
plenty of water, as it is harmful
to plastic parts.
 Do not use any harsh chemical
prod ucts on plastic parts. Be
sure to avoi d usin g cloths or
spon ges which have b een in
contact with stron g or a brasive
cleanin g prod ucts, solvent or
thinner, fuel ( gasoline), rust re-
movers or inhi bitors, brake flui d,
antifreeze or electrolyte.
 Do not use hi gh-pressure wash-
ers or steam-jet cleaners since
they cause water seepag e and
d eterioration in the followin g ar-
eas: seals (of wheel an d swin g-
arm bearin gs, fork an d b rakes),
electric components (couplers,
connectors, instruments,
switches an d li ghts), breather
hoses an d vents.
 For motorcycles equippe d with
a win dshiel d: Do not use stron g
cleaners or har d spon ges as
they will cause dullin g or
sc r

atchin g. Some cleanin g
compoun ds for plastic may
leave scratches on the win d- shiel
d. Test the pro duct on a
small hi dden part of the win d-
shiel d to make sure that it does
not leave any marks. If the win d-
shiel d is scratche d, use a quality
plastic polishin g compoun d af-
ter washing .
After normal useRemove dirt with warm water, a mild
detergent, and a soft, clean sponge,
and then rinse thoroughly with clean
water. Use a toothbrush or bottlebrush
for hard-to-reach areas. Stubborn dirt
and insects will come off more easily if
the area is covered with a wet cloth for
a few minutes before cleaning.
After riding in the rain, near the sea oron salt-sprayed roadsSince sea salt or salt sprayed on roads
during winter are extremely corrosive
in combination with water, carry out
the following steps after each ride in
the rain, near the sea or on salt-
sprayed roads.
TIPSalt sprayed on roads in the winter
may remain well into spring.1. Clean the motorcycle with cold
water and a mild detergent, after
the engine has cooled down.
NOTICE: Do not use warm wa-
ter since it increases the corro-
sive action of the salt.
[ECA10792]
2. After drying the motorcycle, apply a corrosion protection spray on all
metal, including chrome- and
nickel-plated, surfaces (except the
titanium mufflers) to prevent cor-
rosion.
Cleaning the titanium mufflersThis model is equipped with titanium
mufflers, which require the following
special care.  Use only a soft, clean cloth or
sponge with mild detergent and
water to clean the titanium muf-
flers. However, if the mufflers can-
not be thoroughly cleaned with
mild detergent, alkaline products
and a soft brush may be used.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-3
7 
Never use compounds or other
special treatments to clean the ti-
tanium mufflers, as they will re-
move the finish on the outer
surface of the mufflers.
 Even the smallest amounts of oil,
such as from oily towels or finger-
prints, will leave stains on the tita-
nium mufflers, which can be
removed with a mild detergent.
 Note that the thermally induced
discoloring of the portion of the
exhaust pipe leading into the tita-
nium mufflers is normal and can-
not be removed.
After cleaning 1. Dry the motorcycle with a chamois or an absorbing cloth.
2. Immediately dry the drive chain and lubricate it to prevent it from
rusting.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine chrome, aluminum and stainless-
steel parts. 4. To prevent corrosion, it is recom-
mended to apply a corrosion pro-
tection spray on all metal,
including chrome- and nickel-plat-
ed, surfaces.
5. Use spray oil as a universal clean- er to remove any remaining dirt.
6. Touch up minor paint damage caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces.
8. Let the motorcycle dry completely before storing or covering it.
WARNING
EWA11132
Contaminants on the brakes or tires
can cause loss of control.  Make sure that there is no oil or
wax on the brakes or tires.
 If necessary, clean the brake
d iscs an d b rake linin gs with a
re gular brake disc cleaner or
acetone, an d wash the tires with
warm water an d a mil d d eter-
g ent. Before ri din g at hi gher
speed s, test the motorcycle’s
b rakin g performance an d cor-
nerin g b ehavior.
NOTICE
ECA10801
 Apply spray oil an d wax spar-
in gly an d make sure to wipe off
any excess.
 Never apply oil or wax to any
rubber an d plastic parts, but
treat them with a suitab le care
prod uct.
 Avoi d usin g a brasive polishin g
compoun ds as they will wear
away the paint.TIP Consult a Yamaha dealer for ad-
vice on what products to use.
 Washing, rainy weather or humid
climates can cause the headlight
lens to fog. Turning the headlight
on for a short period of time will
help remove the moisture from the
lens.
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