clutch YAMAHA YFZ450R 2012 Owners Manual

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 1-1
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1 Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator light and warning lights ................ 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-5
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-5
Brake lever ................................................. 4-6
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-6
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-7
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-8
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-8
Fuel ............................................................ 4-9 Seat ..........................................................4-10
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-11
Adjusting the rear shock absorber assembly .................................................4-16
Handlebar position ....................................4-24
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1 Fuel .............................................................5-4
Engine oil ....................................................5-4
Coolant .......................................................5-4
Front and rear brakes .................................5-4
Throttle lever ...............................................5-5
Drive chain ..................................................5-5
Tires ............................................................5-5
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-7
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-7
OPERATION...................................................6-1 Starting the engine ......................................6-1
Shifting ........................................................6-2
Engine break-in ...........................................6-4
Parking ........................................................6-4
Parking on a slope ......................................6-5U18P66E0.book Page 1 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-22
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1 Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system ........................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ......................................................... 8-5
Removing and installing the cowling and panels ....................................................... 8-9 Checking the spark plug ...........................8-15
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-16
Coolant .....................................................8-22
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-23
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-27
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-29
Valve clearance ........................................8-30
Brakes .......................................................8-30
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-30
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-32
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-33
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-33
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-34
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-34
Brake light switches ..................................8-36
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-36
Drive chain slack .......................................8-38
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-40
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-40
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-41
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-42
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-42
Checking the wheel hub bearings .............8-42
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ...............8-43
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3-2
3
EBU17712Controls and instrumentsTIPThe ATV you have purchased may differ slightly
from the figures shown in this manual.1. Clutch lever
2. Parking brake lever
3. Handlebar switches
4. Fuel tank cap
5. Main switch
6. Front brake fluid reservoir
7. Throttle lever
8. Brake lever
2
1
3
7
6
5
8
4
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4-5
4
EBU18323Speed limiter Your ATV is equipped with an adjustable speed
limiter. The speed limiter keeps the throttle from
fully opening, even when the throttle lever is
pushed to the maximum.1. Loosen the locknut.
2. To increase the maximum engine power avail- able and the maximum speed of the ATV, turn
the adjusting screw in direction (a). To de-
crease the maximum engine power available
and the maximum speed of the ATV, turn the
adjusting screw in direction (b). Do not turn
the adjusting screw out more than 12 mm
(0.47 in) or the throttle cable could be dam-
aged. Always make sure the throttle lever free
play is adjusted to 2.0– 4.0 mm (0.08–0.16 in).
(See page 8-29.) WARNING! Improper ad-
justment of the speed limiter and throttle
could cause throttle cable damage or im-
proper throttle operation. You could lose
control, resulting in an accident.
[EWB00241]
3. Tighten the locknut.EBU18382Clutch lever The clutch lever is located on the left handlebar
and the ignition circuit cut-off system is incorporat-
ed in the clutch lever holder. To disengage the
clutch, pull the clutch lever toward the handlebar
grip. To engage the clutch, release the clutch lever.
The clutch lever should be pulled rapidly and re-1. Locknut
2. Adjusting screw
3. No more than 12 mm (0.47 in)
3
12
(a)
(b)
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4-6
4
leased slowly for smooth clutch operation. (See
page 6-1 for a description of the ignition circuit cut-
off system.)
EBU18423Brake lever The brake lever is located on the right handlebar.
To apply the front brake, pull the brake lever to-
ward the handlebar grip.
The brake lever is equipped with a position adjust-
ing bolt. To adjust the distance between the brake
lever and the handlebar grip, hold the brake lever
away from the handlebar so it does not contact the
adjusting bolt, loosen the locknut, turn the adjust-
ing bolt, and then tighten the locknut.
EBU18432Brake pedal The brake pedal is located on the right side of the
ATV. To apply the rear brake, push down on the
brake pedal.
1. Clutch lever
1. Brake lever
2. Locknut
3. Brake lever position adjusting bolt
4. Distance between brake lever and handlebar grip
1
4
23
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4-8
4
WARNING
EWB00220
Always set the parking brake before starting
the engine. The ATV could start moving un-
expectedly if the parking brake is not ap-
plied. This could cause loss of control or a
collision.
Always be sure you have released the park-
ing brake before you begin to ride. The brake
could overheat if you ride the ATV without re-
leasing the parking brake. You could lose
braking performance which could cause an
accident. You could also wear out the brakes
prematurely.EBU18530Shift pedal This ATV is equipped with a constant-mesh 5-
speed transmission. The shift pedal is located on
the left side of the engine and is used in combina-
tion with the clutch when shifting.
EBU18720Fuel tank cap Remove the fuel tank cap by turning it counter-
clockwise.1. Shift pedal
1
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5-2
5
Front brake
Check 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. 5-4, 8-30, 8-32, 8-33
Rear brake 
Check 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. 5-4, 8-30, 8-32, 8-34
Clutch 
Check operation, and correct if necessary.
 Lubricate cable if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 8-36
Throttle lever 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-5, 8-29
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-40
Drive chain 
Check chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
 Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary. 5-5, 8-38, 8-40
Wheels and tires 
Check wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
 Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
 Check air pressure. Correct if necessary. 5-5
Shift pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth.
 Correct if necessary. 8-42
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-42
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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5-3
5
Brake and clutch levers
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary. 8-41
Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches 
Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7
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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.EBU29952Starting the engine NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in ” section on page 6-4
prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the key to “” (on) and the engine stop
switch to “”.
The following warning lights should come on
for a few seconds, then go off.

Coolant temperature warning light
Fuel level warning light
Engine trouble warning light
NOTICEECB00824If a warning light does not go off, see page 4-2
for the corresponding warning light circuit
check. To avoid possible damage, do not oper-
ate the ATV if a warning light stays on.3. Shift the transmission into neutral. The neutral indicator light should come on, if it does not
come on, have a Yamaha dealer 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 transmission
in gear. However, it is recommended to shift into
neutral before starting the engine.
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6-2
64. Completely close the throttle lever and start
the engine by pushing the start switch.
TIPIf the engine fails to start, release the start switch,
then push it again. Pause a few seconds before
the next attempt. Each cranking should be as short
as possible to preserve battery energy. Do not
crank the engine more than 10 seconds on each
attempt.NOTICEECB00163For maximum engine life, never accelerate
hard when the engine is cold!EBU20522Shifting This ATV has a 5-speed forward transmission. The
transmission allows you to control the amount of
power you have available at a given speed or for
starting, accelerating, climbing 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.
EBU20592To start out and accelerate
1. Release the throttle lever, apply the front or rear brake, and then release the parking
brake.1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
1
2 2 3
4 5
N1
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