engine YAMAHA YZ250F 2003 Service Manual

3 - 16
INSP
ADJ
ENGINE OIL REPLACEMENT
7. If the oil filter is to be replaced during this
oil change, remove the following parts
and reinstall them.
8. Install:
Copper washer 1
Oil strainer (frame) 2
Oil hose 3
Bolt (oil hose) 4
Oil hose clamp 5
Lower engine bracket
9. Install:
Copper washer
Oil filter element drain bolt
Crankcase oil drain bolt
Frame oil drain bolt
10. Fill:
Engine oil
11. Check:
Oil leakage
12. Install:
Oil tank cap
13. Check:
Engine oil level Replacement steps:
Remove the oil filter element cover 1 and
oil filter element 2.
Check the O-rings 3, if cracked or dam-
aged, replace them with a new one.
Install the oil filter element and oil filter ele-
ment cover.
T R..
Oil filter element cover:
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
Oil quantity:
Total amount:
1.2 L (1.06 Imp qt, 1.27 US qt)
Periodic oil change:
1.0 L (0.88 Imp qt, 1.06 US qt)
With oil filter replacement:
1.1 L (0.97 Imp qt, 1.27 US qt)
T R..70 Nm (7.0 m · kg, 50 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..2 Nm (0.2 m · kg, 1.4 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..20 Nm (2.0 m · kg, 14 ft · lb)
T R..23 Nm (2.3 m · kg, 17 ft · lb)

3 - 17
INSP
ADJ
OIL PRESSURE INSPECTION
1. Check:
Oil pressure
Checking steps:
Slightly loosen the oil pressure check bolt
1.
Start the engine and keep it idling until oil
starts to seep from the oil pressure check
bolt. If no oil comes out after one minute,
turn the engine off so it will not seize.
Check oil passages and oil pump for dam-
age or leakage.
Start the engine after solving the prob-
lem(s) and recheck the oil pressure.
Tighten the oil pressure check bolt.
T R..
Oil pressure check bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
PILOT SCREW ADJUSTMENT
1. Adjust:
Pilot screw 1
Adjustment steps:
NOTE:
To optimize the fuel flow at a smaller throttle
opening, each machine’s pilot screw has
been individually set at the factory. Before
adjusting the pilot screw, turn it in fully and
count the number of turns. Record this num-
ber as the factory-set number of turns out.
Turn in the pilot screw until it is lightly
seated.
Turn out the pilot screw by the factory-set
number of turns.
Pilot screw:
1-5/8 turns out (example)
OIL PRESSURE INSPECTION/
PILOT SCREW ADJUSTMENT

3 - 18
INSP
ADJ
ENGINE IDLING SPEED ADJUSTMENT
1. Start the engine and thoroughly warm it
up.
2. Attach:
Inductive tachometer
To spark plug lead.
3. Adjust:
Engine idling speed
Adjustment steps:
Adjust the pilot screw.
Refer to “PILOT SCREW ADJUSTMENT”
section.
Turn the throttle stop screw 1 until the
engine runs at the lowest possible speed.
To increase idle speed → Turn the throt-
tle stop screw 1 in a.
To decrease idle speed → Turn the throt-
tle stop screw 1 out b.
Inductive tachometer:
YU-8036-B
Engine tachometer:
90890-03113
Engine idling speed:
1,900 ~ 2,100 r/min
VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND
ADJUSTMENT
NOTE:
The valve clearance should be adjusted
when the engine is cool to the touch.
The piston must be at Top Dead Center
(T.D.C.) on compression stroke to check or
adjust the valve clearance.
1. Remove:
Seat
Fuel tank
Refer to “SEAT, FUEL TANK AND
SIDE COVERS” section in the CHAP-
TER 4.
2. Drain:
Coolant
Refer to “COOLANT REPLACEMENT”
section.
ENGINE IDLING SPEED ADJUSTMENT/
VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT

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INSP
ADJ
VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
3. Remove:
Right radiator
Refer to “RADIATOR” section in the
CHAPTER 4.
Carburetor
Refer to “CARBURETOR” section in
the CHAPTER 4.
Spark plug
Upper engine bracket
Cylinder head cover
Refer to “CAMSHAFTS” section in the
CHAPTER 4.
4. Remove:
Timing mark accessing screw 1
Crankshaft end accessing screw 2
O-ring
5. Check:
Valve clearance
Out of specification → Adjust.
Valve clearance (cold):
Intake valve:
0.10 ~ 0.15 mm (0.0039 ~ 0.0059 in)
Exhaust valve:
0.17 ~ 0.22 mm (0.0067 ~ 0.0087 in)

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INSP
ADJ
VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
Install the new pads 3 and the valve lift-
ers 4.
NOTE:
Apply the engine oil on the valve lifters.
Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the
valve stem ends.
Valve lifter must turn smoothly when
rotated with a finger.
Be careful to reinstall valve lifters and
pads in their original place.
Install the camshafts (exhaust and intake).
Refer to “CAMSHAFTS” section in the
CHAPTER 4.

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INSP
ADJ
DRIVE CHAIN SLACK ADJUSTMENT
5. Install:
Drive chain 1
Joint 2
Master link clip 3
CAUTION:
Be sure to install the master link clip to the
direction as shown.
aTurning direction
6. Lubricate:
Drive chain
Drive chain lubricant:
SAE 10W-30 motor oil or suit-
able chain lubricants
DRIVE CHAIN SLACK ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the rear wheel by placing the
suitable stand under the engine.
2. Check:
Drive chain slack a
Above the seal guard installation bolt.
Out of specification → Adjust.
NOTE:
Before checking and/or adjusting, rotate the
rear wheel through several revolutions and
check the slack several times to find the tight-
est point. Check and/or adjust the drive chain
slack with the rear wheel in this “tight chain”
position.
Drive chain slack:
40 ~ 50 mm (1.6 ~ 2.0 in)

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INSP
ADJ
FRONT FORK INSPECTION
3. Adjust:
Drive chain slack
Drive chain slack adjustment steps:
Loosen the axle nut 1 and locknuts 2.
Adjust the drive chain slack by turning the
adjusters 3.
To tighten → Turn the adjuster 3 coun-
terclockwise.
To loosen → Turn the adjuster 3 clock-
wise and push wheel forward.
Turn each adjuster exactly the same
amount to maintain correct axle alignment.
(There are marks a on each side of the
drive chain puller alignment.)
NOTE:
Turn the adjuster so that the drive chain is in
line with the sprocket, as viewed from the
rear.
CAUTION:
Too small drive chain slack will overload
the engine and other vital parts; keep the
slack within the specified limits.
Tighten the axle nut while pushing down
the drive chain.
T R..
Axle nut:
125 Nm (12.5 m • kg, 90 ft • lb)
Tighten the locknuts.
T R..
Locknut:
16 Nm (1.6 m • kg, 11 ft • lb)
EC36C000
FRONT FORK INSPECTION
1. Inspect:
Front fork smooth action
Operate the front brake and stroke the
front fork.
Unsmooth action/oil leakage → Repair
or replace.

3 - 34
INSP
ADJFRONT FORK OIL SEAL AND DUST SEAL CLEANING/
FRONT FORK INTERNAL PRESSURE RELIEVING/
FRONT FORK REBOUND DAMPING FORCE ADJUSTMENT
EC36D001
FRONT FORK OIL SEAL AND DUST SEAL
CLEANING
1. Remove:
Protector
Dust seal 1
NOTE:
Use a thin screw driver, and be careful not to
damage the inner fork tube and dust seal.
2. Clean:
Dust seal a
Oil seal b
NOTE:
Clean the dust seal and oil seal after every
run.
Apply the lithium soap base grease on the
inner tube.
FRONT FORK INTERNAL PRESSURE
RELIEVING
NOTE:
If the front fork initial movement feels stiff dur-
ing a run, relieve the front fork internal pres-
sure.
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing a suit-
able stand under the engine.
2. Remove the air bleed screw 1 and
release the internal pressure from the
front fork.
3. Install:
Air bleed screw
EC36H002
FRONT FORK REBOUND DAMPING FORCE
ADJUSTMENT
1. Adjust:
Rebound damping force
By turning the adjuster 1.
Stiffer a → Increase the rebound damp-
ing force. (Turn the adjuster 1 in.)
Softer b → Decrease the rebound damp-
ing force. (Turn the adjuster 1 out.)
T R..1 Nm (0.1 m · kg, 0.7 ft · lb)

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INSP
ADJREAR SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING PRELOAD
ADJUSTMENT
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING
PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the rear wheel by placing the
suitable stand under the engine.
2. Remove:
Rear frame
3. Loosen:
Locknut 1
4. Adjust:
Spring preload
By turning the adjuster 2.
* For EUROPE
NOTE:
Be sure to remove all dirt and mud from
around the locknut and adjuster before
adjustment.
The length of the spring (installed) changes
1.5 mm (0.06 in) per turn of the adjuster.
CAUTION:
Never attempt to turn the adjuster beyond
the maximum or minimum setting.
5. Tighten:
Locknut
6. Install:
Rear frame (upper)
Rear frame (lower) Stiffer →Increase the spring preload.
(Turn the adjuster 2 in.)
Softer →Decrease the spring preload.
(Turn the adjuster 2 out.)
Spring length (installed) a:
Standard length Extent of adjustment
248 mm (9.76 in)
*260 mm (10.24 in)240.5 ~ 258.5 mm
(9.47 ~ 10.18 in)
*255.5 ~ 273.5 mm
(10.06 ~ 10.77 in)
T R..32 Nm (3.2 m · kg, 23 ft · lb)
T R..29 Nm (2.9 m · kg, 21 ft · lb)

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INSP
ADJ
STEERING HEAD INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
2. Inspect:
Bearing free play
Exist play → Replace.
EC36U013
STEERING HEAD INSPECTION AND
ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing a suit-
able stand under the engine.
2. Check:
Steering stem
Grasp the bottom of the forks and gen-
tly rock the fork assembly back and
forth.
Free play → Adjust steering head.
3. Check:
Steering smooth action
Turn the handlebar lock to lock.
Unsmooth action → Adjust steering ring
nut.
4. Adjust:
Steering ring nut
Steering ring nut adjustment steps:
Remove the number plate.
Remove the handlebar and handlebar
upper bracket.
Loosen the steering ring nut 1 using the
steering nut wrench 2.
Steering nut wrench:
YU-33975/90890-01403