brake YAMAHA YFM350R-W 2012 User Guide

5-2
5
Rear brakeCheck operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-22, 8-23, 8-25
ClutchCheck operation, and correct if necessary.
Lubricate cable if necessary.
Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary.8-28
Throttle leverMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary.5-3, 8-21
Control cablesMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-32
Drive chainCheck chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary.5-4, 8-29, 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
Brake and shift pedalsMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting points
if necessary.8-34
Brake and clutch leversMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary.8-33
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 PAGEU10P70E0.book Page 2 Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:51 AM

5-3
5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-9.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-11.)EBU19712Front and rear brakes Brake lever and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system.
Check for correct brake pedal height. (See page
8-25.) If the pedal height is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it.
Check the operation of the lever and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If not,
have a Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-23.)Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If there is any leak-
age, have a Yamaha dealer check the brake sys-
tem.
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 for wear. (See page 8-22.)
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.Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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6-1
6
EBU19881
OPERATION
EBU19901Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV. If there is a control or function you do not
understand, ask your Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB00631Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury.EBU28093Starting a cold engine NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in” section on page 6-6
prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the key to “ON” and the engine stop
switch to“”.4. Shift the transmission into neutral. The neutral
indicator light should come on. If the indicator
light does not come on, have a Yamaha deal-
er check the electrical circuit.
TIPThis model is equipped with an ignition circuit cut-
off system. The engine can be started under the
following conditions.
The transmission is in neutral.
The clutch is disengaged with the shift pedal and
the drive select lever in any position. However, it
is recommended to shift into neutral before start-
ing the engine.5. Use the starter (choke) in reference to the fig-
ure:TIPBe sure to move the starter lever gently to keep the
correct starter lever assembly position.
Position (1):
Cold engine start with ambient temperature
below 5 °C (40 °F).
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6-3
6
EBU20291Starting a warm engine Follow the same procedure as for starting a cold
engine, with the exception that the starter (choke)
is not required when the engine is warm. Instead,
start the engine with the throttle slightly open.EBU20341Operating the drive select lever and
driving in reverse NOTICEECB00170Before shifting, stop the ATV, otherwise the
transmission may be damaged.Shifting: Reverse to Forward
1. Bring the ATV to a complete stop.
2. Pull in the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
3. Apply the brake pedal.
4. While pulling the drive select lever handle up-
ward, move the drive select lever forward until
it completely stops.5. Release the brake pedal.
6. Open the throttle lever gradually and release
the clutch lever slowly.
Shifting: Forward to Reverse
WARNING
EWB00720Improper operation in reverse could make you
hit an obstacle or even a person behind you,
resulting in serious injury. When you shift into1. Drive select lever
2. Drive select lever handle
3. For forward drive
4. For reverse drive
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6-4
6reverse, make sure there are no people or ob-
stacles behind you. When it is safe to proceed,
go slowly.
1. Bring the ATV to a complete stop.
2. Pull in the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
3. Apply the brake pedal.
4. While pulling the drive select lever handle up-
ward, move the drive select lever to the rear
until it completely stops.TIPWhen in reverse, the reverse indicator light should
be on. If the indicator light does not come on, have
a Yamaha dealer check the electrical circuit.5. Check behind you for people or obstacles,
and then release the brake pedal.
6. Open the throttle lever gradually and release
the clutch lever slowly. Continue to watch to
the rear while backing.
EBU29762Shifting This ATV has a 6-speed forward and 1-speed re-
verse transmission. The transmission allows you
to control the amount of power you have available
at a given speed or for starting, accelerating, climb-
ing hills, etc.
To shift into neutral, release the throttle lever, ap-
ply the clutch, and then repeatedly depress the
shift pedal until it stops.
When it stops, it will be in first gear. Raise the pedal
slightly to reach the neutral position, and then re-
lease the clutch.1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
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6-5
6
EBU28112To start out and accelerate
1. Release the throttle lever, and then release
the parking brake.NOTICEECB00200Always close the throttle before shifting gears,
otherwise damage to the engine and drive train
may result.2. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
3. Shift into first gear.
4. Open the throttle gradually and at the same
time, release the clutch lever slowly.
WARNING! Opening the throttle abruptly
or releasing the clutch lever too quickly
could make the ATV wheelie, which would
increase the chance of an accident, includ-
ing an overturn.
[EWB00731]
WARNING
EWB02401Stones or mud may come off the rear tires and
be thrown backwards when starting or acceler-
ating. Use caution when starting out or acceler-
ating when others are behind the ATV.
5. Once the ATV has attained adequate speed,
release the throttle, and at the same time,
quickly pull in the clutch lever.
6. Shift the transmission into second gear.
(Make sure not to shift the transmission into
neutral.)
7. Open the throttle part way and gradually re-
lease the clutch lever.
8. Follow the same procedure when shifting to
the next higher gear.EBU20650To decelerate
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
WARNING
EWB00710Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating and lose
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6-7
6
NOTICEECB00220If any engine trouble should occur during the
engine break-in period, immediately have a
Yamaha dealer check the ATV.EBU20722Parking When parking the ATV, shift into first gear, stop the
engine, apply the parking brake, and then turn the
fuel cock to “OFF”.
EBU20865Parking on a slope
WARNING
EWB00851Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, place the ATV transversely across the
incline, shift into first gear, stop the engine, ap-
ply the parking brake, and then block the front
and rear wheels with rocks or other objects.
Never park the ATV on hills that are too steep
to walk up easily.1. Bring the ATV to a stop by applying the front
brake, shift into first gear, and then stop the
engine.
2. With the front and rear brakes applied, apply
the parking brake.
3. Release the front and rear brakes.
4. Turn the fuel cock to “OFF”.
1. Parking brake lever (locked position)U10P70E0.book Page 7 Thursday, July 21, 2011 8:51 AM

7-11
7 Do not ride in areas posted “no trespassing”.
Do not ride on private property without getting per-
mission.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, shifting procedures,
and turning techniques in this area before trying
more difficult terrain.
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. As you
get on the ATV, be sure not to accidentally move
the shift pedal. With the engine idling, pull the
clutch lever to disengage the clutch and shift into
1st gear, and then release the parking brake. Open
the throttle gradually, and at the same time, re-
lease the clutch lever slowly. Once the ATV has at-
tained adequate speed, release the throttle lever
and at the same time, quickly pull in the clutch le-
ver and shift into 2nd gear. Open the throttle part
way and gradually release the clutch. WARNING!
If the throttle is applied too abruptly or if the
throttle is not released during shifting, or if the
shift pedal is not released before applying the
throttle, the front wheels may lift off the
ground, resulting in a loss of directional con-
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7-12
7trol.
[EWB02631]
NOTICE: Do not shift gears without
releasing the throttle. Damage to the engine or
drive train may occur.
[ECB01071]
Use this same procedure as you move into the
higher gears. Be sure to coordinate the use of the
throttle and shift pedal properly.
Avoid higher speeds until you are thoroughly famil-
iar with the operation of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
TURNING YOUR ATV
WARNING
EWB01771Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast
for your skills or the conditions. ATV could go
out of control, causing a collision or overturn.
To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es, the two rear wheels turn together at the same
speed. Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside
of the turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction,
the ATV will resist turning. A special turning tech-
nique 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.
As you approach a curve, slow down and begin to
turn the handlebars in the desired direction. As you
do so, put your weight on the footrest to the outside
of the turn (opposite your desired direction) and
lean your upper body into the turn. Use the throttle
to maintain an even speed through the turn. This
maneuver will let the wheel on the inside of the turn
slip slightly, allowing the ATV to make the turn
properly.
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7-16
7If you start to roll backwards, DO NOT apply the
brake pedal, and apply the front brake gradually.
The ATV could easily tip over backwards. When
fully stopped, apply the brake pedal as well, and
then lock the parking brake. Dismount the ATV im-
mediately on the uphill side or to a side if pointed
straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and remount,
following the procedure described in the Owner’s
Manual. WARNING! Stalling, rolling backwards
or improperly dismounting while climbing a hill
could result in ATV overturning. If you cannot
control the ATV, dismount immediately on the
uphill side.
[EWB01802]
RIDING DOWNHILL
WARNING
EWB02640Going down a hill improperly could cause
overturns or loss of control. Always follow
proper procedures for going down hills as de-
scribed in this Owner’s Manual.
Always check the terrain carefully before
you start down any hill.
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