checking oil YAMAHA YFM250R-W 2011 Owners Manual

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 .............................. 6-3
Shifting ....................................................... 6-3
Engine break-in .......................................... 6-5
Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-7
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD
JUDGEMENT ............................................ 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-13
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-14
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-17
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-21
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-23WHAT TO DO... .........................................7-23
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR
REPAIR ..........................................................8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit .......................8-1
Periodic maintenance chart for the
emission control system ...........................8-3
General maintenance and lubrication
chart ..........................................................8-5
Checking the spark plug .............................8-8
Engine oil and oil filter element ...................8-9
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-13
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-17
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-18
Adjusting the engine idling speed .............8-19
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .........8-20
Valve clearance ........................................8-20
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-21
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-22
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-24
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-24
Checking the brake pedal position ............8-25
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-26
Brake light switches ..................................8-27
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-28
Drive chain slack .......................................8-29
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-31
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8-10
82. 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 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 minimumand maximum level marks.
5. If the engine oil is at or below the minimum
level mark, add sufficient oil of the recom-
mended type to raise it to the correct level.
6. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler hole, and
then tighten the engine oil filler cap.
To change the engine oil (with or without oil fil-
ter element replacement)
1. Start the engine, warm it up for several min-
utes, and then turn it off.
2. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect
the used oil.
3. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then re-
move the engine oil drain bolt to drain the oil
from the crankcase.
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Dipstick
3. Maximum level mark
4. Minimum level mark
1
2
3
4 1
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8-13
8 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 thecrankcase.
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.
EBU23704Cleaning 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.
1.“CD” specification
2.“ENERGY CONSERVING II”
1
2
1. Air filter case check hose
1
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8-24
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.EBU24291Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the brake fluid at
the intervals specified in the TIP after the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart. In addition,
have the oil seals of the master cylinders and cali-
pers as well as the brake hoses replaced at the in-
tervals listed below or whenever they are damaged
or leaking.
Oil seals: Replace every two years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four years.
EBU24393Checking 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 no
free play as shown. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
WARNING
EWB02471Operating 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
1
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8-32
8
NOTICEECB00560The drive chain must be lubricated after wash-ing the ATV or riding in the rain.
1. Clean the drive chain with kerosene and a
small soft brush.NOTICEECB00570To prevent damaging the O-rings, do not clean
the drive chain with steam cleaners, high-pres-sure washers or inappropriate solvents.
2. Wipe the drive chain dry.3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive chain with a
special O-ring chain lubricant.
NOTICEECB00580Do not use engine oil or any other lubricants
for the drive chain, as they may contain sub-stances that could damage the O-rings.EBU24900Checking and lubricating the cables The operation and the condition of all control ca-
bles should be checked before each ride, and the
cables and cable ends should be lubricated if nec-
essary. If a cable is damaged or does not move
smoothly, have a Yamaha dealer check or replace
it.
WARNING
EWB02130Inspect cables frequently and replace if dam-
aged. Corrosion can result when the cable
sheaths become damaged, and cables can
1. O-rings
1
Recommended lubricant:
Engine oil
U33B70E0.book Page 32 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

INDEX
AAccessories and loading ................................................ 6-7
Air filter element, cleaning ............................................ 8-13
Auxiliary light bulb ........................................................ 8-41BBattery .......................................................................... 8-36
Brake and clutch levers, checking and lubricating ....... 8-33
Brake fluid, changing .................................................... 8-24
Brake fluid level, checking ............................................ 8-22
Brake lever free play, checking the front ...................... 8-24
Brake lever (YFM250RSE-W) ........................................ 4-7
Brake lever (YFM250R-W) ............................................. 4-6
Brake light switches ..................................................... 8-27
Brake pads, checking the front and rear ...................... 8-21
Brake pedal .................................................................... 4-7
Brake pedal, checking and lubricating ......................... 8-34
Brake pedal position, checking .................................... 8-25
Brakes, front and rear .................................................... 5-3CCables, checking and lubricating ................................. 8-32
Carburetor, adjusting .................................................... 8-18
Chassis fasteners ........................................................... 5-6
Cleaning ......................................................................... 9-1
Clutch lever .................................................................... 4-6
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ................................... 8-28DDrive chain ..................................................................... 5-4
Drive chain, lubricating ................................................. 8-31Drive chain slack .......................................................... 8-29
EEngine break-in .............................................................. 6-5
Engine, cold start ........................................................... 6-1
Engine idling speed ...................................................... 8-19
Engine oil ....................................................................... 5-3
Engine oil and oil filter element ...................................... 8-9
Engine, starting a warm ................................................. 6-3
Engine stop switch ......................................................... 4-3FFuel ....................................................................... 4-10, 5-3
Fuel cock ...................................................................... 4-11
Fuel tank cap .................................................................. 4-9
Fuse, replacing ............................................................. 8-38HHandlebar switches ........................................................ 4-3
Hazard switch ................................................................. 4-4
Headlight beam ............................................................ 8-40
Headlight bulb .............................................................. 8-39
High beam indicator light ................................................ 4-2
Horn switch .................................................................... 4-4IIdentification numbers .................................................. 11-1
Indicator lights ................................................................ 4-2
Instruments, lights and switches .................................... 5-6KKey identification number ............................................. 11-1
U33B70E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM