wheel YAMAHA YFM700R 2017 User Guide

7-15
7
It is important when climbing a hill to make sure
that your weight is transferred forward on the ATV.
This can be accomplished by leaning forward and,
on steeper inclines, standing on the footrests and
leaning forward over the handlebars. Whenever
possible, ride straight up hills.
Slow down when you reach the crest of the hill if
you cannot see clearly what is on the other side –
there could be another person, an obstacle, or a
sharp drop-off. Use common sense and remem-
ber that some hills are too steep for you to climb
or descend.
If you are climbing a hill and you find that you have
not properly judged your ability to make it to the
top, you should turn the ATV around while you still
have forward motion (provided you have the room
to do so) and go down the hill.
If your ATV has stalled or stopped and you believe
you can continue up the hill, restart carefully to
make sure you do not lift the front wheels which
could cause you to lose control. If you are unable
to continue up the hill, dismount the ATV on the
uphill side. Physically turn the ATV around and
then descend the hill. If you start to roll backwards, DO NOT apply the
rear brake, and apply the front brake gradually.
The ATV could easily tip over backwards. When
fully stopped, apply the rear brake 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.
[EWB01803]
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7-16
7RIDING DOWNHILL
WARNING
EWB01132Going down a hill improperly could cause over-
turns or loss of control. Always follow proper
procedures for going down hills as described
in this Owner’s Manual.
Always check the terrain carefully before you
start down any hill. 
Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for
the ATV or for your abilities. The ATV can
overturn more easily on extremely steep hills
than on level surfaces or small hills.
 Shift your weight backward and to the up
side of the hill.
 Never go down a hill at high speed.
 Avoid going down a hill at an angle that
would cause the ATV to lean sharply to one
side. Go straight down the hill where possi-
ble.
 Improper braking can cause the wheels on
the uphill side to come off the ground or cau-
se loss of traction. Gradually apply only the
rear brake when going downhill.
When riding your ATV downhill, shift your weight
as far to the rear and uphill side of the ATV as pos-
sible. Move back on the seat and sit with your
arms straight. Choose a low gear which will allow
the engine compression to do most of the braking
for you.
Use caution while descending a hill with loose or
slippery surfaces. Braking ability and traction may
be adversely affected by these surfaces. Improper
braking may also cause a loss of traction. Gradu-
ally apply only the rear brake.
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7-18
7As you travel across a slope, lean your body in the
uphill direction. It may be necessary to correct the
steering when riding on loose surfaces by pointing
the front wheels slightly uphill. When riding on
slopes, be sure not to make sharp turns either up
or down hill.
If your ATV does begin to tip over, gradually steer
in the downhill direction if there are no obstacles
in your path. As you regain proper balance, grad-
ually steer again in the direction you wish to travel.
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER
WARNING
EWB01642Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-
flowing water can lead to loss of control or an
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing through
water. Never operate this ATV water deeper
than the depth specified in your Owner’s Man-
ual, as tires may float, increasing the risk of an
overturn. The ATV can be used to cross slow moving, shal-
low water of up to a maximum of 35 cm (14 in) in
depth. Before entering the water, choose your
path carefully. Enter where there is no sharp drop
off, and avoid rocks or other obstacles which may
be slippery or upset the ATV. Drive slowly and
carefully.
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7-21
7
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.
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 reduced. 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.
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7-22
7WHAT 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 7-11.)
 If your ATV begins to tip while turning:
Lean more into the turn to regain balance. If
necessary, gradually let off the throttle and/or
steer to the outside of the turn. (See page 7-11.)
 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 7-20.)
 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.) 
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 7-17.)
 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 7-18.)
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8-6
8
5*Brake hoses • Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√√
• Replace. Every 4 years
6 *Brake fluid • Change. Every 2 years
7 *Parking brake • Check operation and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
8 *Wheels • Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
9 *Tires • Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
• Check air pressure and balance, and correct if necessary. √ √√√
10 *Wheel hub bearings • Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
11 *Swingarm pivots • Check operation and for excessive play, and re-
place bearings if necessary.
• Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
12 *Upper and lower
arm pivots • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
13 Drive chain • Check chain slack and adjust if necessary.
• Check rear wheel alignment and correct if neces-
sary.
• Clean and lubricate. √√√√√
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)
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8-30
8
EBU29561Front brake pads
Each brake pad is provided with 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 the wear indicator grooves have almost dis-
appeared, have a Yamaha dealer replace the
brake pads as a set.TIPThe wheels need to be removed to check the
brake pads. (See page 8-52.)
EBU29832Rear brake pads
Each brake pad is provided with 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 the wear indicator grooves have almost dis-
appeared, have a Yamaha dealer replace the
brake pads as a set.
1. Wear indicator groove
1
1. Wear indicator groove
1
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8-36
8hold the adjusting bolt with a wrench so
that it does not turn together with the lock-
nut.
[ECB00522]
WARNING
EWB02091Operating 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. EBU24744Brake light switchesThe brake light, which is activated by the brake
pedal and brake lever, should come on just before
braking takes effect. The brake light switch for the brake pedal can be
adjusted as follows, but the front brake light
switch should be adjusted by a Yamaha dealer.
Turn the rear brake light switch adjusting nut while
holding the brake light switch in place. To make
the brake light come on earlier, turn the adjusting
nut in direction (a). To make the brake light come
on later, turn the adjusting nut in direction (b).
EBU29752Adjusting the clutch lever free playThe clutch lever free play must be checked and, if
necessary, adjusted at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.
Tightening torque:
Locknut (rear brake caliper):16 N·m (1.6 kgf·m, 12 lb·ft)1. Rear brake light switch
2. Rear brake light switch adjusting nut
1
2
(a)
(b)
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8-38
88. Tighten the locknut at the clutch lever, and
then slide the rubber cover to its original po-
sition.
TIPIf the specified free play cannot be obtained as de-
scribed above or if the clutch does not operate
correctly, have a Yamaha dealer check the internal
clutch mechanism. EBU26865Drive chain slackThe drive chain slack should be checked before
each ride and adjusted if necessary.
To check the drive chain slack1. Place the ATV on a level surface.TIPWhen checking and adjusting the drive chain
slack, there should be no weight on the ATV and
all tires must be touching the ground. 2. Move the ATV back and forth to locate the tightest portion of the drive chain, and then
measure the drive chain slack as shown. 3. If the drive chain slack is incorrect, adjust it as
follows.
To adjust the drive chain slack 1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Loosen the rear wheel axle pinch bolts.
3. Insert a rod of a diameter of 8 mm (0.3 in) and a length of 10 cm (4 in) into one of the holes in
the drive chain tensioner as shown.
Drive chain slack:
25.0–35.0 mm (0.98–1.38 in)
1. Drive chain slack
1
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8-39
8
TIPA rod can be obtained at a Yamaha dealer to make
this adjustment. 4. Shift the transmission into neutral.
5. To tighten the drive chain, push the ATVbackward. To loosen the drive chain, push
the ATV forward. NOTICE: Improper drive
chain slack will overload the engine as well
as other vital parts of the ATV and can lead
to drive chain slippage or breakage. To prevent this from occurring, keep the drive
chain slack within the specified limits.
[ECB00543]
6. Pull the rod out, and then tighten the rear axle
pinch bolts to the specified torque in the or-
der shown.
1. Rear wheel axle pinch bolt
2. Rod
3. Drive chain tensioner
4. Hole
4
2
11
3
Tightening torque:
Rear axle pinch bolt:21 N·m (2.1 kgf·m, 15 lb·ft)
31 24
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