brakes YAMAHA YFM350R 2012 User Guide

7-21
7cident. Be sure to keep your feet firmly mounted on
the footrests at all times. Avoid jumping the ATV as
loss of control and damage to the ATV may result.
SLIDING AND SKIDDING
WARNING
EWB01662Skidding or sliding improperly may cause you
to lose control of this ATV. You may also re-
gain traction unexpectedly, which may cause
the ATV to overturn.
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
control.Care should be used when riding on loose or slip-
pery surfaces since the ATV may slide. If unex-
pected and uncorrected, sliding could lead to an
accident.
To reduce the tendency for the front wheels to slide
in loose or slippery conditions, positioning your
weight over the front wheels will sometimes help.
If the rear wheels of your ATV start to slide side-
ways, control can usually be regained (if there is
room to do so) by steering in the direction of the
slide. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the slide.U1BS62E0.book Page 21 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

7-22
7
With 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.
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 footrest 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 7-21.)
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 – the ATV may tip over on
top of you. Dismount the ATV on the uphill side.
(See page 7-13.)
U1BS62E0.book Page 22 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

7-23
7

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 7-18.)
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.)
U1BS62E0.book Page 23 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

8-22
84. Tighten the locknut.
5. Slide the rubber cover to its original position.
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.
EBU29601Brakes Replacement of brake components requires pro-
fessional knowledge. Brake service should be per-
formed by a Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB02571Operating with improperly serviced or adjust-
ed brakes could lead to a loss in braking ability
and an accident.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.EBU28790Front brake pads
Each brake pad is provided with two wear indicator
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 indica-
tor grooves. If a brake pad has worn to the point
that a wear indicator groove almost appears, have
a Yamaha dealer replace the brake pads as a set.
1. Rubber cover
2. Throttle lever free play adjusting bolt
3. Locknut
4. Throttle lever free play
3
1 2
4
U1BS62E0.book Page 22 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

8-27
8
TIPIf the cable length cannot be adjusted to specifica-
tion, consult a Yamaha dealer.6. Tighten the locknut on the brake cable.
7. Slide the rubber cover to its original position.
8. Turn in the adjusting bolt at the rear brake cal-iper until it feels tight, then turn it out 1/8 turn
and tighten its locknut to the specified torque.
NOTICE: When tightening the locknut, hold the adjusting bolt with a wrench so
that it does not turn together with the lock-
nut.
[ECB00521]
WARNING
EWB02090Operating with improperly serviced or adjust-
ed brakes could cause the brakes to malfunc-
tion, resulting in reduced braking
performance. This could increase the chance
of a collision or accident. After adjusting the
parking brake free play, block the rear of the
ATV off the ground and spin the rear wheels.
Check to make sure there is no brake drag. If
brake drag is noticed, perform the adjustment
again.EBU24743Brake light switches The brake light, which is activated by the brake
pedal and brake lever, should come on just before
braking takes effect.
1. Locknut
2. Adjusting nut
3. Rubber cover
1
2
(a) (b)
3
Tightening torque:
Locknut (rear brake caliper):16 Nm (1.6 m ·kgf, 12 ft ·lbf)
U1BS62E0.book Page 27 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

9-1
9
EBU25860
CLEANING AND STORAGE
EBU25902Cleaning Frequent, thorough cleaning of your ATV will not
only enhance its appearance but will improve its
general performance and extend the useful life of
many components.1. Before cleaning the ATV: a. Block off the end of the exhaust pipe toprevent water entry. A plastic bag and
strong rubber band may be used.
b. Make sure the spark plug and all filler caps are properly installed.
2. If the engine case is excessively greasy, apply degreaser with a paint brush. Do not apply de-
greaser to the chain, sprockets or wheel ax-
les.
3. Rinse the dirt and degreaser off with a garden hose. Use only enough pressure to do the job.
WARNING! Wet brakes may have reduced stopping ability, increasing the chance of
an accident. Test the brakes after washing.
Apply the brakes several times at slow
speeds to let friction dry out the linings.
[EWB02311]
NOTICE: Excessive water pressure may cause water seepage and deteriora-
tion of wheel bearings, brakes, transmis-
sion seals and electrical devices. Many
expensive repair bills have resulted from
improper high-pressure detergent applica-
tions such as those available in coin-oper-
ated car washers.
[ECB00711]
4. Once most of the dirt has been hosed off,
wash all surfaces with warm water and mild,
detergent-type soap. An old toothbrush or bot-
tle brush is handy for hard-to-reach places.
5. Rinse the ATV off immediately with clean wa- ter and dry all surfaces with a chamois, clean
towel or soft absorbing cloth.
6. Dry the chain and lubricate it to prevent it from rusting.
7. Clean the seat with a vinyl upholstery cleaner to keep the cover pliable and glossy.
8. Automotive type wax may be applied to all painted and chrome plated surfaces. Avoid
combination cleaner-waxes. Many contain
abrasives which may mar the paint or protec-
tive finish. When finished cleaning, start the
engine and let it idle for several minutes.
U1BS62E0.book Page 1 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM

INDEX
AAccessories and loading ................................................ 6-8
Air filter element, cleaning ............................................ 8-15BBattery .......................................................................... 8-37
Brake and clutch levers, checking and lubricating ....... 8-33
Brake and shift pedals, checking and lubricating ......... 8-33
Brake fluid, changing ................................................... 8-25
Brake fluid level, checking ........................................... 8-23
Brake lever ..................................................................... 4-5
Brake lever free play, checking the front ...................... 8-25
Brake light switches ..................................................... 8-27
Brake pads, checking the front and rear ...................... 8-22
Brake pedal .................................................................... 4-5
Brake pedal height, checking ....................................... 8-25
Brakes .......................................................................... 8-22
Brakes, front and rear .................................................... 5-3CCables, checking and lubricating ................................. 8-32
Carburetor, adjusting ................................................... 8-20
Chassis fasteners .......................................................... 5-6
Cleaning ......................................................................... 9-1
Clutch lever .................................................................... 4-4
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ................................... 8-28DDrive chain ..................................................................... 5-4
Drive chain, lubricating ................................................. 8-31
Drive chain slack .......................................................... 8-29Drive select lever ........................................................... 4-7
Drive select lever and driving in reverse ........................ 6-3
EEngine break-in .............................................................. 6-6
Engine, cold start ........................................................... 6-1
Engine idling speed ..................................................... 8-20
Engine oil ....................................................................... 5-3
Engine oil and oil filter element .................................... 8-11
Engine, starting a warm ................................................. 6-3
Engine stop switch ......................................................... 4-2FFuel ......................................................................... 4-8, 5-3
Fuel cock ..................................................................... 4-10
Fuel tank cap ................................................................. 4-8
Fuse, replacing ............................................................ 8-40HHandlebar switches ....................................................... 4-2
Headlight beam, adjusting ........................................... 8-42
Headlight bulb, replacing ............................................. 8-40IIdentification numbers .................................................. 11-1
Indicator lights ................................................................ 4-2
Instruments, lights and switches .................................... 5-6LLabel locations ............................................................... 1-1
Light switch .................................................................... 4-3MMain switch .................................................................... 4-1
U1BS62E0.book Page 1 Monday, April 18, 2011 6:43 PM