brake YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 2008 Owner's Manual

7-23
7With practice, over a period of time, skill at con-
trolled sliding can be developed. The terrain
should be chosen carefully before attempting such
maneuvers, since both stability and control are re-
duced. Bear in mind that sliding maneuvers should
always be avoided on extremely slippery surfaces
such as ice, since all control may be lost.
WARNING
EWB01661Learn 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
control.
WHAT TO DO IF...
This section is designed to be a reference guide
only. Be sure to read each section on riding tech-
niques completely.
WHAT TO DO...
If your ATV doesn’t turn when you want it to:
Bring the ATV to a stop and practice the turning
maneuvers again. Be sure you are putting your
weight on the footboard to the outside of the
turn. Position your weight over the front wheels
for better control. (See page 7-12.)
If your ATV begins to tip while turning:
Lean more into the turn to regain balance. If nec-
essary, gradually let off the throttle and/or steer
to the outside of the turn. (See page 7-12.)
If your ATV starts to slide sideways:
Steer in the direction of the slide if you have the
room. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the
slide. (See page 7-22.)
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7

If your ATV can’t make it up a hill you are trying
to climb:
Turn the ATV around if you still have forward
speed. If not, stop, dismount on the uphill side of
the ATV and physically turn the ATV around. If
the ATV starts to slip backwards, DO NOT USE
THE REAR BRAKE IF THE ATV IS IN 2WD –
the ATV may tip over on top of you. Dismount
the ATV on the uphill side. (See page 7-14.)
If your ATV is traversing a sloping surface:
Be sure to ride with your weight positioned to-
wards the uphill side of the ATV to maintain
proper balance. If the ATV starts to tip, steer
down the hill (if there are no obstacles in your
way) to regain balance. If you discover that the
ATV is going to tip over, dismount on the uphill
side. (See page 7-14.)
If your ATV encounters shallow water:
Ride slowly and carefully through slow moving
water, watching for obstacles. Be sure to let wa-
ter drain from the ATV and CHECK YOUR
BRAKES FOR PROPER OPERATION when
you come out of the water. Do not continue to
ride your ATV until you have regained adequate
braking ability. (See page 7-19.)
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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 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 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.√ √√√
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8-7
8
EBU23070NOTE:
The air filter needs more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.20 Final gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
21 Cooling systemCheck coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary.√√√√√
Replace coolant. Every 2 years
22*Moving parts and
cablesLubricate.√√√√
23*Drive select lever
safety system cableCheck operation and adjust or replace if neces-
sary.√√√
24*Throttle lever hous-
ing and cableCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check throttle cable free play and adjust if neces-
sary.
Lubricate throttle lever housing and cable.√√√√√
25*Front and rear brake
switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.√√√√√
26*Lights and switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Adjust headlight beams.√√√√√ NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
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8

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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8-38
8 3. Tighten the locknut.
EBU24060Valve clearance The valve clearance changes with use, resulting in
improper air-fuel mixture and/or engine noise. To
prevent this from occurring, the valve clearance
must be adjusted by a Yamaha dealer at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
EBU24070Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable The drive select lever safety system cable stretch-
es with use, which can result in improper function.
Therefore, the safety system cable should be
checked and adjusted at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.EBU24130Checking the front and rear brake pads The front and rear brake pads must be checked for
wear at the intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.EBU24171Front brake pads
Check each front brake pad for damage and mea-
sure the lining thickness. If a brake pad is dam-
aged or if the lining thickness is less than 1.0 mm
(0.04 in), have a Yamaha dealer replace the brake
pads as a set.
1. Locknut
2. Throttle cable free play adjusting bolt
3. Throttle cable free playU3C262E0.book Page 38 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

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8
NOTE:The wheels need to be removed to check thebrake pads. (See page 8-53.)EBU26460Rear brake pads
Each rear brake pad is provided with wear indica-
tor grooves, which allow you to check the brake
pad wear without having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check the wear indi-
cator grooves. If a brake pad has worn to the point
that the wear indicator grooves have almost disap-
peared, have a Yamaha dealer replace the brake
pads as a set.
NOTE:The wheels need to be removed to check thebrake pads. (See page 8-53.)EBU26471Checking the brake fluid level Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to enter the
brake system, possibly causing it to become inef-
fective.
Before riding, check that the brake fluid is above
the minimum level mark and replenish if neces-
sary. A low brake fluid level may indicate worn
1. Lining thickness
1. Wear indicator groove
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8-40
8 brake pads and/or brake system leakage. If the
brake fluid level is low, be sure to check the brake
pads for wear and the brake system for leakage.
Front brakeRear brake
NOTE:To check the rear brake fluid level, remove cowlingB. (See page 8-9.)
Observe these precautions:
When checking the fluid level, make sure that
the top of the brake fluid reservoir is level.
Use only the recommended quality brake fluid,
otherwise the rubber seals may deteriorate,
causing leakage and poor braking performance.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level markRecommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
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8

Refill with the same type of brake fluid. Mixing
fluids may result in a harmful chemical reaction
and lead to poor braking performance.
Be careful that water does not enter the brake
fluid reservoir when refilling. Water will signifi-
cantly lower the boiling point of the fluid and may
result in vapor lock.
Brake fluid may deteriorate painted surfaces or
plastic parts. Always clean up spilled fluid imme-
diately.
As the brake pads wear, it is normal for the brake
fluid level to gradually go down. However, if the
brake fluid level goes down suddenly, have a
Yamaha dealer check the cause.EBU24290Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the brake fluid at
the intervals specified in the NOTE after the peri-
odic maintenance and lubrication chart. In addi-
tion, have the oil seals of the master cylinders and
calipers as well as the brake hoses replaced at the
intervals listed below or whenever they are dam-
aged or leaking.
Oil seals: Replace every two years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four years.
EBU24390Checking the front brake lever free play The brake lever free play must be checked at the
intervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. The brake lever should have a
free play of zero mm (zero in) as shown. If the free
play is incorrect, have a Yamaha dealer check the
brake system.
WARNING
EWB02070Operating with improperly serviced or adjust-
ed brakes could cause loss of braking ability,
which could lead to an accident.
After servicing:1. Brake lever free play
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8

Make sure the brakes operate smoothly and
that the free play is correct.
Make sure the brakes do not drag.
Make sure the brakes are not spongy. All air
must be bled from the brake system.
Replacement of brake components requires
professional knowledge. These proceduresshould be performed by a Yamaha dealer.EBU26491Adjusting the rear brake lever free play
and checking the brake pedal position The brake lever free play must be adjusted and
brake pedal position must be checked and, if nec-
essary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.NOTE:
Always perform this maintenance completely in
the following order whenever adjusting the rear
brake.
Before adjusting the brake lever free play and
checking the brake pedal position, check therear brake pads for wear.Adjusting the brake lever free play
The brake lever free play should measure 0.5–2.0
mm (0.02–0.08 in) as shown. If the free play is in-
correct, adjust it as follows.
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. Turn the brake lever free play adjusting bolt in
direction (a) to increase the free play, and in
direction (b) to decrease it.
1. Brake lever free play
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