maintenance YAMAHA YFM250R 2012 User Guide

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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 *Clutch Check operation and adjust if necessary. √ √√√
3 *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
4 *Rear 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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5*Brake hoses 
Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√√
 Replace. Every 4 years
6 *Parking brake Check operation and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
7 *Wheels 
Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
8 *Tires 
Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
 Check air pressure and balance, and correct if
necessary. √ √√√
9 *Wheel hub bearings 
Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
10 *Swingarm pivots 
Check operation and for excessive play, and re-
place bearings if necessary.
 Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
11 *Upper and lower
arm pivots

Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
12 Drive chain 
Check chain slack and adjust if necessary.
 Check rear wheel alignment and correct if neces-
sary.
 Clean and lubricate. √√√√√
13 *Drive chain roller Check for wear and replace 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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14*Chassis fasteners 
Make sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened. √√√√√
15 *Shock absorber as-
semblies 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary. √√√
16 *Steering shaft Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
17 *Steering system 
Check operation and repair or replace if damaged.
 Check toe-in and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
18 Engine oil 
Change.
 Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √ √√√
19 Engine oil filter ele-
ment 
Replace. √√√
20 *Moving parts and
cables 
Lubricate. √√√√
21 *Throttle lever 
Check operation.
 Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
 Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
22 *Front and rear brake
switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√√
23 *Lights and switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Adjust headlight beams. √√√√√
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 320U1BT62E0.book Page 7 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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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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EBU23213Checking the spark plug The spark plug is an important engine component,
which is easy to check. Since heat and deposits
will cause any spark plug to slowly erode, the spark
plug should be removed and checked in accor-
dance with the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart. In addition, the condition of the spark
plug can reveal the condition of the engine.
To remove the spark plug1. Remove the spark plug cap. 2. Remove the spark plug as shown, with the
spark plug wrench included in the owner ’s tool
kit.
To check the spark plug 1. Check that the porcelain insulator around the center electrode of the spark plug is a medi-
um-to-light tan (the ideal color when the ATV
is ridden normally).
TIPIf the spark plug shows a distinctly different color,
the engine could be operating improperly. Do not
attempt to diagnose such problems yourself. In-
stead, have a Yamaha dealer check the ATV.
1. Spark plug cap
1
1. Spark plug wrench
1
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EBU28957Engine oil and oil filter element The engine oil level should be checked before
each ride. In addition, the oil must be changed and
the oil filter element must be replaced at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
To check the engine oil level1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Check the engine oil level on a cold engine.TIPIf the engine was started before checking the oil
level, be sure to warm up the engine sufficiently,
and then wait at least ten minutes until the oil set-
tles for an accurate reading.3. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then wipe the engine oil dipstick off with a clean
rag.
4. Insert the dipstick into the filler hole (without screwing it in), and then remove it again to
check the oil level.
TIPThe engine oil should be between the minimum
and maximum level marks.5. If the engine oil is at or below the minimumlevel mark, add sufficient oil of the recom-
mended type to raise it to the correct level.
NOTICE: Be sure the engine oil is at the
correct level, otherwise engine damage
may result.
[ECB00851]
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Engine oil dipstick
3. Maximum level mark
4. Minimum level mark
2
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NOTICEECB00300
In order to prevent clutch slippage (since the
engine oil also lubricates the clutch), do not
mix any chemical additives. Do not use oils
with a diesel specification of “CD” or oils of
a higher quality than specified. In addition,
do not use oils labeled “ENERGY CONSERV-
ING II ” or higher.
Make sure that no foreign material enters the
crankcase.10. Start the engine, and then let it idle for several
minutes while checking it for oil leakage. If oil
is leaking, immediately turn the engine off and
check for the cause.
11. Turn the engine off, wait at least ten minutes, and then check the oil level and correct it if
necessary.EBU23707Cleaning the air filter element The air filter element should be cleaned at the in-
tervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. Clean or, if necessary, replace
the air filter element more frequently if you are
riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.
TIPThere is a check hose at the bottom of the air filter
case. If dust or water collects in this hose, empty
the hose and clean the air filter element and air fil-
ter case.1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove the seat. (See page 4-11.)
3. Remove the air filter case cover by unhookingthe holders.1. Air filter case check hose
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17. Install the seat.
TIPThe air filter element should be cleaned every 20
–
40 hours. It should be cleaned and lubricated more
often if the ATV is operated in extremely dusty ar-
eas. Each time the air filter element maintenance
is performed, check the air inlet of the air filter case
for obstructions. Check the air filter case rubber
joint to the carburetor fittings and the rubber joint
manifold fittings for an air-tight seal. Tighten all fit-
tings securely to avoid the possibility of unfiltered
air entering the engine.EBU28903Cleaning the spark arrester Be sure the exhaust pipe and muffler are cool be-
fore cleaning the spark arrester. 1. Remove the tailpipe bolts. 2. Remove the tailpipe by pulling it out of the
muffler, and then remove the gasket.
3. Tap the tailpipe lightly, and then use a wire brush to remove any carbon deposits from the
spark arrester portion of the tailpipe and inside
of the tailpipe housing.
1. Tailpipe bolt
2. Tailpipe
2
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ing, possibly leading to death, and start a fire.
Always let the exhaust system cool prior to
touching exhaust components.
EBU23940Adjusting the carburetor The carburetor should be checked and, if neces-
sary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the peri-
odic maintenance and lubrication chart. The
carburetor is an important part of the engine and
requires very sophisticated adjustment. Therefore,
most carburetor adjustments should be left to a
Yamaha dealer, who has the necessary profes- sional knowledge and experience. The adjustment
described in the following section, however, may
be performed by the owner as part of routine main-
tenance.NOTICEECB00480The carburetor has been set and extensively
tested at the Yamaha factory. Changing these
settings without sufficient technical knowl-
edge may result in poor performance of or
damage to the engine.
EBU24000Adjusting the engine idling speed The engine idling speed must be checked and, if
necessary, adjusted as follows at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart.TIPA diagnostic tachometer is needed to make this
adjustment.1. Start the engine and warm it up.TIPThe engine is warm when it quickly responds to the
throttle.2. Attach the tachometer to the spark plug lead.
3. Check the engine idling speed and, if neces- sary, adjust it to specification by turning the
throttle stop screw at the carburetor. To in-
crease the engine idling speed, turn the throt-
tle stop screw in direction (a), and to decrease
it, turn the screw in direction (b).
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TIPIf the specified idling speed cannot be obtained as
described above, have a Yamaha dealer make the
adjustment.EBU24047Adjusting the throttle lever free play The throttle lever free play should be checked and,
if necessary, adjusted at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.The throttle lever free play should measure 2.0
–
4.0 mm (0.08 –0.16 in) as shown. Periodically
check the throttle lever free play and, if necessary,
adjust it as follows.
TIPThe engine idling speed must be checked, and ad-
justed if necessary, before adjusting the throttle le-
ver free play.1. Slide the rubber cover back.
2. Loosen the locknut.
3. To increase the throttle lever free play, turn the throttle lever free play adjusting bolt in di-
rection (a). To decrease the throttle lever free
play, turn the adjusting bolt in direction (b).
1. Throttle stop screwEngine idling speed:1500 –1600 r/min
1
(a)
(b)
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