brake YAMAHA WOLVERINE 350 2004 User Guide

5-5
EBU13151
Front and rear brakes
Brake levers and brake pedal

Check for correct free play in the front brake le-
ver. If the free play is incorrect, have a Yamaha
dealer adjust it.


Check for correct free play in the rear brake le-
ver and brake pedal. If the free play is incorrect,
adjust it. (See pages 8-77–8-81.)


Check the operation of the brake levers and
pedal. They should move smoothly and there
should be a firm feeling when the brakes are
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 8-69–8-73.)
Recommended brake fluid: DOT 4
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5-7
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.
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 brake pads and shoes for wear. (See
page 8-67.)
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
EBU01162
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.
EBU01003
Lights
Check the headlights and tail/brake light to make
sure they are in working condition. Repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.
EBU01170
Switches
Check the operation of all switches. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper op-
eration.
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6-3
EBU14650
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. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON”, and then set
the engine stop switch to “”.
4. Shift the drive select lever into the neutral po-
sition.
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6-5 a. Starter (choke)
1. Fully open
2. Half open
3. Closed
a. Starter (enrichisseur)
1. Complètement ouvert
2. Mi-ouvert
3. Fermé
a. Arrancador (estrangulador)
1. Abre completamente
2. Semiabierto
3. Cerrado
NOTE:_

When the drive select lever is in the neutral
position, the neutral indicator light should
come on. If the neutral indicator light does not
come on, ask a Yamaha dealer to inspect the
electric circuit.


The engine can be started in any gear if the
brake pedal is applied. However, it is recom-
mended 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 temperature below 5°C.
Position
2: Cold engine start-
ambient temperature at 0°C–30°C
and warming up position.
Position
3: Cold engine start-
ambient temperature 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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6-13 1. Drive select lever
a. F (Forward)
b. N (Neutral)
c. R (Reverse)
1. Levier de présélection
a. F (Marche avnt)
b. N (Point mort)
c. R (Marche arrière)
1. Palanca de selección de marcha
a. F (Marcha adelante)
b. N (Punto muerto)
c. R (Marcha atrás)
Shifting: reverse
1. Bring the machine to a complete stop and re-
turn the throttle lever to the closed position.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift the gear from neutral to reverse and vice
versa by moving the drive select lever along
the shift guide.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. _4. Check behind for people or obstacles, then
release the brake pedal.
5. 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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6-17
0–10 hours:
Avoid continuous operation above half throttle. Al-
low a cooling off period of five to ten minutes after
every hour of operation. Vary the speed of the ma-
chine from time to time. Do not operate it at one
set throttle position.
10–20 hours:
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle. Rev
the machine freely but do not use full throttle at any
time.
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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6-19
EBU13760
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, place the machine transversely across
the incline, 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 easi-
ly. _1. Bring the machine to a stop by applying the
brakes.
2. Stop the engine.
3. With the rear brake lever and pedal applied,
apply the parking brake, and then slowly re-
lease the brake pedal.
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7-35
Select a large, flat area off-road to become familiar
with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free of
obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, and turning tech-
niques in this area before trying more difficult ter-
rain. Always avoid riding on paved surfaces: the
ATV is designed for off-road use only, and han-
dling maneuvers are more difficult to perform on
pavement.
Set the parking brake and follow the instructions
on page 6-3 to start the engine. Once it has
warmed up you are ready to begin riding your
ATV. Remember that the engine and exhaust pipe
will be hot when riding and afterwards; do not al-
low skin or clothing to come in contact with these
components.
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7-37
With the engine idling, return the starter (choke) to
the closed position, shift the drive select lever into
the forward position, and then release the parking
brake. Apply the throttle slowly and smoothly. The
centrifugal clutch will engage and you will start to
accelerate. If the throttle is applied too abruptly,
the front wheels may lift off the ground resulting in
a loss of directional control. Avoid higher speeds
until you are thoroughly familiar with the operation
of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to
lose traction, reducing control and increasing the
possibility of an accident.
U5UH60.book Page 37 Wednesday, October 8, 2003 9:05 AM