tires YAMAHA WOLVERINE 350 2009 Owners Manual

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 1-1
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1
Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1
Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator lights and warning light ................ 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-4
Front brake lever ........................................ 4-5
Brake pedal and rear brake lever ............... 4-5
Parking brake ............................................. 4-6
Drive select lever ........................................ 4-7
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-7
Fuel ............................................................ 4-8
Fuel cock .................................................... 4-9Starter (choke) ..........................................4-10
Seat ..........................................................4-11
Storage compartment ...............................4-12
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-13
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly .................................................4-14
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Pre-operation check list ..............................5-1
Fuel .............................................................5-3
Engine oil ....................................................5-3
Final gear oil ...............................................5-3
Front and rear brakes .................................5-3
Throttle lever ...............................................5-4
Tires ............................................................5-4
Measuring the tire pressure ........................5-5
Tire wear limit .............................................5-6
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-6
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-6
OPERATION...................................................6-1
Starting a cold engine .................................6-1
Starting a warm engine ...............................6-3U3D563E0.book Page 1 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

1-3
1 hill. If you stall or roll backwards, follow the spe-
cial procedure for braking described in this man-
ual. Dismount on the uphill side or to a side if
pointed straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and
remount, following the procedure described in
this manual.

Always check for obstacles before operating in a
new area.
Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.
Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth
terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces, such as
ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of con-
trol.
Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.

Always be sure there are no obstacles or people
behind you when you operate in reverse. When
it is safe to proceed in reverse, go slowly.
Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.
Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories.
Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo. Al-
low greater distance for braking.
WARNING
EWB00061
Always turn off the engine when refueling.
Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.
Do not spill gasoline on the engine or ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling. Never re-
fuel while smoking, or in the vicinity of
sparks, open flames, or other sources of ig-
nition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers. Gasoline can catch
fire and you could be burned.
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5-2
5
Rear brakeCheck operation, and correct if necessary.
Lubricate cables if necessary.
Check lever and pedal free play, and adjust if necessary.5-3, 8-25, 8-28
Throttle leverMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
Check cable free play, and adjust if necessary.5-4, 8-24
Control cablesMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-32
Wheels and tiresCheck wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
Check air pressure. Correct if necessary.5-4, 5-5, 5-6
Brake pedal Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary.8-33
Brake leversMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary.8-33
Axle bootsCheck for cracks or damage, and replace if necessary. 8-32
Chassis fastenersMake sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-6
Instruments, lights and
switchesCheck operation, and correct if necessary. 5-6 ITEM ROUTINE PAGEU3D563E0.book Page 2 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

5-4
5lever moves slowly 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 and shoes for wear. (See page
8-25.)
WARNING
EWB00580Always 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, havea Yamaha dealer check for the cause.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.
EBU19812Tires
WARNING
EWB00592Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasing
your risk of accident.
Pay attention to the following.
The tires listed below have been approved
by Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corpora-
tion of America for this model. Other tire
combinations are not recommended.
Front:
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M937
Size:
AT23 x 8-12
Type:
Tubeless
Rear:
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M938
Size:
AT23 x 10-12
Type:
Tubeless
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5-5
5

The tires should be set to the recommended
pressure:
Recommended tire pressure:
Front:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Check and adjust tire pressures when the
tires are cold.
Tire pressures must be equal on both
sides.
Tire pressure below the minimum speci-
fied could cause the tire to dislodge from
the rim under severe riding conditions.
Minimum tire pressure:
Front:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Use no more than the following pressures
when seating the tire beads.
Maximum tire seating pressure:
Front:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm², 36 psi)
Rear:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm², 36 psi)Higher pressures and fast inflation may
cause a tire to burst. Inflate the tires very
slowly and carefully.EBU19821Measuring the tire pressure Use the low-pressure tire gauge.TIPThe low-pressure tire gauge is included as stan-
dard equipment. Make two measurements of the
tire pressure and use the second reading. Dust or
dirt in the gauge could cause the first reading to beincorrect.1. Low-pressure tire gauge
U3D563E0.book Page 5 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

5-6
5Set the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Set
the tire pressures to the following specifications:
EBU19830Tire wear limit Replace the tire when the tire groove decreases to
3 mm (0.12 in).
EBU19840Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are prop-
erly tightened.EBU19850Instruments, lights and switches Check that all instruments, lights and switches are
working properly. Correct if necessary. Recommended pressure:
Fro nt
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Minimum:
Fro nt
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)1. Tire wear limit
U3D563E0.book Page 6 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

7-6
7 in the Owner’s Manual. Failure to inspect the
ATV before operating or failure to properly
maintain the ATV increases the possibility of
an accident or equipment damage.
WARNING
EWB01440Always use the size and type tires specified in
the Owner’s Manual for this ATV on page 5-4.
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in the Owner’s Manual on page 5-5.
Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasingyour risk of an accident.
Do not operate at speeds too fast for your skills
or the conditions.
WARNING
EWB01450Always go at a speed that is proper for the ter-
rain, visibility and operating conditions, and
your experience. Operating this ATV at speeds
too fast for your skills or the conditions in-
creases your chances of losing control of theATV, which can result in an accident.Speed limiter
For riders less experienced with this model, the
throttle lever housing is equipped with a speed lim-
iter. The speed limiter keeps the throttle from fully
opening, even when the throttle lever is pushed to
the maximum. Turning in the adjusting screw limits
the maximum engine power available and de-
creases the maximum speed of the ATV. Turning
in the adjusting screw decreases top speed, and
turning it out increases top speed. (See page 4-4.)
1. Adjusting screw
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7-12
7 Select a large, flat, unpaved area to become famil-
iar 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 use on unpaved surfaces only,
and handling maneuvers are more difficult to per-
form on pavement.
Set the parking brake and follow the instruction on
page 6-1 to start the engine. Once it has warmed
up you are ready to begin riding your ATV. Re-
member that the engine and exhaust pipe will be
hot when riding and afterwards; do not allow skin
or clothing to come in contact with these compo-
nents.With the engine idling, return the starter (choke) to
the closed position and shift the drive select lever
into the forward position, 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 un-
til 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 possi-
bility of an accident.
TURNING YOUR ATV
To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es, the two rear wheels are mounted solidly on one
axle and turn together at the same speed. There-
fore, unless the wheel on the inside of the turn is al-
lowed to slip or lose some traction, the ATV will
resist turning. A special turning technique must be
used to allow the ATV to make turns quickly and
easily. It is essential that this skill be learned first at
low speed.
U3D563E0.book Page 12 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

7-19
7
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER
The ATV can be used to cross slow moving, shal-
low water of up to a maximum of 35 cm (14 in) in
depth. Before entering the water, choose your path
carefully. Enter where there is no sharp drop off,
and avoid rocks or other obstacles which may be
slippery or upset the ATV. Drive slowly and care-
fully.
WARNING
EWB01640Never operate this ATV in fast flowing water or
in water deeper than that specified in your
Owner’s Manual. Remember that wet brakes
may have reduced stopping ability. Test your
brakes after leaving water. If necessary, apply
them several times to let friction dry out the lin-
ings. If the ATV is operated through deep or
fast flowing water, the tires may float, causing
loss of traction and loss of control, whichcould lead to an accident.
U3D563E0.book Page 19 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM

8-5
8
EBU21864General maintenance and lubrication chart NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
1 Air filter elementClean and replace if necessary.Every 20–40 hours (more often in wet or
dusty areas)
2*Front brakeCheck 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
3*Rear brakeCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check brake lever and pedal free play, and adjust
if necessary.√√√√√
Replace brake shoes. Whenever worn to the limit
4*Brake hosesCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.√√√√
Replace. Every 4 years
5*WheelsCheck runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary.√ √√√
6*TiresCheck tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
Check air pressure and balance, and correct if
necessary.√ √√√
7*Wheel hub bearingsCheck for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary.√ √√√
8*SwingarmCheck for excessive play, and correct if necessary.√√√
U3D563E0.book Page 5 Monday, May 12, 2008 11:12 AM