engine YAMAHA YZ250F 2012 Owners Manual

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of
a Yamaha YZ series. This model is
the culmination of Yamaha's vast ex-
perience in the production of paceset-
ting racing machines. It represents
the highest grade of craftsmanship
and reliability that have made Yama-
ha a leader.
This manual explains operation, in-
spection, basic maintenance and tun-
ing of your machine. If you have any
questions about this manual or your
machine, please contact your Yama-
ha dealer.
Yamaha continually seeks advance-
ments in product design and quality.
Therefore, while this manual contains
the most current product information
available at the time of printing, there
may be minor discrepancies between
your machine and this manual. If you
have any questions concerning this
manual, please consult your Yamaha
dealer.
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL
CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY
BEFORE OPERATING THIS MA-
CHINE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OP-
ERATE THIS MACHINE UNTIL YOU
HAVE ATTAINED A SATISFACTO-
RY KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CON-
TROLS AND OPERATING
FEATURES AND UNTIL YOU HAVE
BEEN TRAINED IN SAFE AND
PROPER RIDING TECHNIQUES.
REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND
CAREFUL MAINTENANCE,
ALONG WITH GOOD RIDING
SKILLS, WILL ENSURE THAT YOU
SAFETY ENJOY THE CAPABILI-
TIES AND THE RELIABILITY OF
THIS MACHINE.
IMPORTANT MANUAL
INFORMATION
Particularly important information is
distinguished in this manual by the
following notations.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is
used to alert you to potential per-
sonal injury hazards. Obey all safe-
ty messages that follow this
symbol to avoid possible injury or
death. A WARNING indicates a hazardous
situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious in-
jury.
A NOTICE indicates special pre-
cautions that must be taken to
avoid damage to the vehicle or oth-
er property.
A TIP provides key information to
make procedures easier or clearer.
SAFETY INFORMATION
THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED
STRICTLY FOR COMPETITION
USE, ONLY ON A CLOSED
COURSE. It is illegal for this machine
to be operated on any public street,
road, or highway. Off-road use on
public lands may also be illegal.
Please check local regulations before
riding.
• THIS MACHINE IS TO BE OPER-
ATED BY AN EXPERIENCED RID-
ER ONLY.
Do not attempt to operate this ma-
chine at maximum power until you
are totally familiar with its character-
istics.
• THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED TO
BE RIDDEN BY THE OPERATOR
ONLY.
Do not carry passengers on this
machine.
• ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE
APPAREL.
When operating this machine, al-
ways wear an approved helmet with
goggles or a face shield. Also wear
heavy boots, gloves, and protective
clothing. Always wear proper fitting
clothing that will not be caught in
any of the moving parts or controls
of the machine.
• ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR MA-
CHINE IN PROPER WORKING
ORDER.
For safety and reliability, the ma-
chine must be properly maintained.
Always perform the pre-operation
checks indicated in this manual.
Correcting a mechanical problem
before you ride may prevent an ac-
cident.• GASOLINE IS HIGHLY FLAMMA-
BLE.
Always turn off the engine while re-
fueling. Take care to not spill any
gasoline on the engine or exhaust
system. Never refuel in the vicinity
of an open flame, or while smoking.
• GASOLINE CAN CAUSE INJURY.
If you should swallow some gaso-
line, inhale excess gasoline vapors,
or allow any gasoline to get into
your eyes, contact a doctor immedi-
ately. If any gasoline spills onto
your skin or clothing, immediately
wash skin areas with soap and wa-
ter, and change your clothes.
• ONLY OPERATE THE MACHINE
IN AN AREA WITH ADEQUATE
VENTILATION.
Never start the engine or let it run
for any length of time in an enclosed
area. Exhaust fumes are poison-
ous. These fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which by itself is odor-
less and colorless. Carbon monox-
ide is a dangerous gas which can
cause unconsciousness or can be
lethal.
• PARK THE MACHINE CAREFUL-
LY; TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
Always turn off the engine if you are
going to leave the machine. Do not
park the machine on a slope or soft
ground as it may fall over.
• THE ENGINE, EXHAUST PIPE,
MUFFLER, AND OIL TANK WILL
BE VERY HOT AFTER THE EN-
GINE HAS BEEN RUN.
Be careful not to touch them or to
allow any clothing item to contact
them during inspection or repair.
• PROPERLY SECURE THE MA-
CHINE BEFORE TRANSPORTING
IT.
When transporting the machine in
another vehicle, always be sure it is
properly secured and in an upright
position and that the fuel cock is in
the "OFF" position. Otherwise, fuel
may leak out of the carburetor or
fuel tank.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
FINDING THE REQUIRED PAGE
1. This manual consists of seven
chapters; "General Information",
"Specifications", "Regular inspec-
tion and adjustments", "Engine",
"Chassis", "Electrical" and "Tun-
ing"
2. The table of contents is at the be-
ginning of the manual. Look over
the general layout of the book be-
fore finding then required chapter
and item.
Bend the book at its edge, as
shown, to find the required fore
edge symbol mark and go to a
page for required item and de-
scription.
MANUAL FORMAT
All of the procedures in this manual
are organized in a sequential, step-
by-step format. The information has
been complied to provide the me-
chanic with an easy to read, handy
reference that contains comprehen-
sive explanations of all disassembly,
repair, assembly, and inspection op-
erations.
In this revised format, the condition of
a faulty component will precede an
arrow symbol and the course of ac-
tion required will follow the symbol,
e.g.,
• Bearings
Pitting/damage→Replace.

HOW TO READ DESCRIPTIONS
To help identify parts and clarify pro-
cedure steps, there are exploded dia-
grams at the start of each removal
and disassembly section.
1. An easy-to-see exploded diagram
"1" is provided for removal and
disassembly jobs.2. Numbers "2" are given in the or-
der of the jobs in the exploded di-
agram. A number that is enclosed
by a circle indicates a disassem-
bly step.
3. An explanation of jobs and notes
is presented in an easy-to-read
way by the use of symbol marks
"3". The meanings of the symbol
marks are given on the next page.4. A job instruction chart "4" accom-
panies the exploded diagram,
providing the order of jobs, names
of parts, notes in jobs, etc.
5. For jobs requiring more informa-
tion, the step-by-step format sup-
plements "5" are given in addition
to the exploded diagram and job
instruction chart.
ILLUSTRATED SYMBOLS (Refer to
the illustration)Illustrated symbols "1" to "7" are used
to identify the specifications appear-
ing in the text.
1. With engine mounted
2. Filling fluid
3. Lubricant
4. Special tool
5. Tightening
6. Specified value, Service limit
7. Resistance (Ω), Voltage (V),
Electric current (A)
Illustrated symbols "8" to "13" in the
exploded diagrams indicate grade of
lubricant and location of lubrication
point.
8. Apply engine oil
9. Apply molybdenum disulfide oil
10. Apply brake fluid11. Apply lightweight lithium-soap
base grease
12. Apply molybdenum disulfide
grease
13. Apply silicone grease
Illustrated symbols "14" to "15" in the
exploded diagrams indicate where to
apply a locking agent and where to in-
stall new parts.
14. Apply locking agent (LOC-
TITE
®)
15. Use new one
1
23
45

TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION1
SPECIFICATIONS2
REGULAR INSPECTION AND
ADJUSTMENTS
3
ENGINE4
CHASSIS5
ELECTRICAL6
TUNING7

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































GENERAL
INFORMATION
LOCATION OF
IMPORTANT LABELS ..... 1-1
DESCRIPTION ................. 1-5
CONSUMER
INFORMATION................. 1-6
INCLUDED PARTS .......... 1-6
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION................. 1-6
CHECKING OF
CONNECTION .................. 1-7
SPECIAL TOOLS ............. 1-8
CONTROL
FUNCTIONS ................... 1-12
STARTING AND
BREAK-IN ...................... 1-13
TORQUE-CHECK
POINTS........................... 1-15
CLEANING AND
STORAGE ...................... 1-16
CHAPTER 2
SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL
SPECIFICATIONS ............ 2-1
MAINTENANCE
SPECIFICATIONS ............ 2-3
TIGHTENING
TORQUES ...................... 2-10
LUBRICATION
DIAGRAMS .................... 2-16
CABLE ROUTING
DIAGRAM ....................... 2-18
CHAPTER 3
REGULAR
INSPECTION AND
ADJUSTMENTS
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS ...................... 3-1
PRE-OPERATION
INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE................ 3-5
ENGINE ............................ 3-6
CHASSIS ........................ 3-14
ELECTRICAL ................. 3-24
CHAPTER 4
ENGINE
SEAT, FUEL TANK AND
SIDE COVERS.................. 4-1
EXHAUST PIPE AND
SILENCER ........................ 4-3
RADIATOR ....................... 4-7
CARBURETOR................. 4-9
CAMSHAFTS.................. 4-16
CYLINDER HEAD........... 4-21
VALVES AND VALVE
SPRINGS ........................ 4-23
CYLINDER AND
PISTON ........................... 4-27
CLUTCH ......................... 4-31
OIL FILTER ELEMENT
AND WATER PUMP ....... 4-35
BALANCER .................... 4-40
OIL PUMP ....................... 4-42
KICK SHAFT AND
SHIFT SHAFT ................. 4-46
CDI MAGNETO............... 4-51
ENGINE REMOVAL ....... 4-53
CRANKCASE AND
CRANKSHAFT ............... 4-57
TRANSMISSION,
SHIFT CAM AND
SHIFT FORK................... 4-63
CHAPTER 5
CHASSIS
FRONT WHEEL AND
REAR WHEEL ..................5-1
FRONT BRAKE AND
REAR BRAKE ..................5-6
FRONT FORK .................5-16
HANDLEBAR..................5-24
STEERING ......................5-28
SWINGARM ....................5-31
REAR SHOCK
ABSORBER ....................5-36
CHAPTER 6
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENTS AND
WIRING DIAGRAM ...........6-2
IGNITION SYSTEM...........6-3
THROTTLE POSITION
SENSOR SYSTEM ...........6-6
CHAPTER 7
TUNING
ENGINE.............................7-1
CHASSIS ..........................7-6

1-5
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
• The machine you have purchased may differ slightly from those shown in the following.
• Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.
1. Clutch lever
2. Hot starter lever
3. Front brake lever
4. Throttle grip
5. Radiator cap
6. Fuel tank cap
7. Engine stop switch
8. Kickstarter crank
9. Fuel tank
10. Radiator
11. Coolant drain bolt
12. Rear brake pedal
13. Valve joint14. Fuel cock
15. Cold starter knob
16. Air filter
17. Drive chain
18. Shift pedal
19. Oil level check window
20. Front fork

1-6
CONSUMER INFORMATION
CONSUMER INFORMATION
There are two significant reasons for
knowing the serial number of your
machine:
1. When ordering parts, you can
give the number to your Yamaha
dealer for positive identification of
the model you own.
2. If your machine is stolen, the au-
thorities will need the number to
search for and identify your ma-
chine.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION
NUMBER
The vehicle identification number "1"
is stamped on the right of the steering
head pipe.
ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER
The engine serial number "1" is
stamped into the elevated part of the
right-side of the engine.
MODEL LABEL
The model label "1" is affixed to the
frame under the rider's seat. This in-
formation will be needed to order
spare parts.
INCLUDED PARTS
DETACHABLE SIDESTAND
This sidestand "1" is used to support
only the machine when standing or
transporting it.
• Never apply additional force to
the sidestand.
• Remove this sidestand before
starting out.
VALVE JOINT
This valve joint "1" prevents fuel from
flowing out and is installed to the fuel
tank breather hose.
In this installation, make sure the
arrow faces the fuel tank and also
downward.
SPARK PLUG WRENCH
This spark plug wrench "1" is used to
remove and install the spark plug.
NIPPLE WRENCH
This nipple wrench "1" is used to
tighten the spoke.
JET NEEDLE PULL-UP TOOL
The jet needle pull-up tool "1" is used
to pull the jet needle out of the carbu-
retor.HANDLEBAR PROTECTOR
Install the handlebar protector "1" so
that the mark "a" face forward.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
PREPARATION FOR REMOVAL
AND DISASSEMBLY
1. Remove all dirt, mud, dust, and
foreign material before removal
and disassembly.
• When washing the machine with
high pressured water, cover the
parts follows.
Silencer exhaust port
Side cover air intake port
Water pump housing hole at the
bottom
Drain hole on the cylinder head
(right side)
2. Use proper tools and cleaning
equipment. Refer to "SPECIAL
TOOLS" section.
3. When disassembling the ma-
chine, keep mated parts together.
They include gears, cylinders,
pistons, and other mated parts
that have been "mated" through
normal wear. Mated parts must
be reused as an assembly or re-
placed.

1-12
CONTROL FUNCTIONS
CONTROL FUNCTIONS
ENGINE STOP SWITCH
The engine stop switch "1" is located
on the left handlebar. Continue push-
ing the engine stop switch till the en-
gine comes to a stop.
CLUTCH LEVER
The clutch lever "1" is located on the
left handlebar; it disengages or en-
gages the clutch. Pull the clutch lever
to the handlebar to disengage the
clutch, and release the lever to en-
gage the clutch. The lever should be
pulled rapidly and released slowly for
smooth starts.
SHIFT PEDAL
The gear ratios of the constant-mesh
5 speed transmission are ideally
spaced. The gears can be shifted by
using the shift pedal "1" on the left
side of the engine.
KICKSTARTER CRANK
Rotate the kickstarter crank "1" away
from the engine. Push the starter
down lightly with your foot until the
gears engage, then kick smoothly
and forcefully to start the engine. This
model has a primary kickstarter crank
so the engine can be started in any
gear if the clutch is disengaged. In
normal practices, however, shift to
neutral before starting.THROTTLE GRIP
The throttle grip "1" is located on the
right handlebar; it accelerates or de-
celerates the engine. For accelera-
tion, turn the grip toward you; for
deceleration, turn it away from you.
FRONT BRAKE LEVER
The front brake lever "1" is located on
the right handlebar. Pull it toward the
handlebar to activate the front brake.
REAR BRAKE PEDAL
The rear brake pedal "1" is located on
the right side of the machine. Press
down on the brake pedal to activate
the rear brake.FUEL COCK
The fuel cock supplies fuel from the
tank to carburetor and also filters the
fuel. The fuel cock has the two posi-
tions:
OFF:
With the lever in this position, fuel will
not flow. Always return the lever to
this position when the engine is not
running.
ON:
With the lever in this position, fuel
flows to the carburetor. Normal riding
is done with the lever in this position.
COLD STARTER KNOB
When cold, the engine requires a
richer air-fuel mixture for starting. A
separate starter circuit, which is con-
trolled by the cold starter knob "1",
supplies this mixture. Pull the cold
starter knob out to open the circuit for
starting. When the engine has
warmed up, push it in to close the cir-
cuit.
HOT STARTER LEVER
The hot starter lever "1" is used when
starting a warm engine. Use the hot
starter lever when starting the engine
again immediately after it was
stopped (the engine is still warm).
Pulling the hot starter lever injects
secondary air to thin the air-fuel mix-
ture temporarily, allowing the engine
to be started more easily.

1-13
STARTING AND BREAK-IN
STARTING AND BREAK-IN
FUEL
Always use the recommended fuel as
stated below. Also, be sure to use
new gasoline the day of a race.
Use only unleaded gasoline. The
use of leaded gasoline will cause
severe damage to the engine inter-
nal parts such as valves, piston
rings, and exhaust system, etc.
If knocking or pinging occurs, use a
different brand of gasoline or higher
octane grade.
• For refueling, be sure to stop the
engine and use enough care not
to spill any fuel. Also be sure to
avoid refueling close to a fire.
• Refuel after the engine, exhaust
pipe, etc. have cooled off.
HANDLING NOTE
Never start or run the engine in a
closed area. The exhaust fumes
are poisonous; they can cause
loss of consciousness and death
in a very short time. Always oper-
ate the machine in a well-ventilated
area.
• The carburetor on this machine
has a built-in accelerator pump.
Therefore, when starting the en-
gine, do not operate the throttle
or the spark plug will foul.
• Unlike a two-stroke engine, this
engine cannot be kick started
when the throttle is open be-
cause the kickstarter may kick
back. Also, if the throttle is open
the air/fuel mixture may be too
lean for the engine to start.
• Before starting the machine, per-
form the checks in the pre-opera-
tion check list.
AIR FILTER MAINTENANCE
According to "CLEANING THE AIR
FILTER ELEMENT" section in the
CHAPTER 3, apply the foam-air-filter
oil or its equivalent to the element.
(Excess oil in the element may ad-
versely affect engine starting.)
STARTING A COLD ENGINE
1. Inspect the coolant level.
2. Turn the fuel cock to "ON".
3. Shift the transmission into neutral.
4. Fully open the cold starter knob
"1".
5. Kick the kickstarter crank.
Do not open the throttle while kick-
ing the kickstarter crank. Other-
wise, the kickstarter crank may
kick back.
6. Return the cold starter knob to its
original position and run the en-
gine at 3,000–5,000 r/min for 1 or
2 minutes.
Since this model is equipped with an
accelerator pump, if the engine is
raced (the throttle opened and
closed), the air/fuel mixture will be too
rich and the engine may stall. Also
unlike a two-stroke engine, this model
can idle.
Do not warm up the engine for ex-
tended periods of time.
STARTING A WARM ENGINE
Do not operate the cold starter knob
and throttle. Pull the hot starter lever
"1" and start the engine by kicking
the kickstarter crank forcefully with a
firm stroke. As soon as the engine
starts, release the hot starter lever to
close the air passage.Restarting an engine after a fall
Pull the hot starter lever and start the
engine. As soon as the engine starts,
release the hot starter lever to close
the air passage.
The engine fails to start
Pull the hot starter lever all the way
out and while holding the lever, kick
the kickstarter crank 10 to 20 times to
clear the engine. Then, restart the en-
gine. Refer to "Restarting an engine
after a fall".
Observe the following break-in
procedures during initial operation
to ensure optimum performance
and avoid engine damage.
Recommended fuel:
Premium unleaded
gasoline only with a re-
search octane number
of 95 or higher.
Thrott
le
grip
oper-
ation*Cold
start-
er
knobHot
start-
er le-
ver
Star
ting
a
cold
en-
gineAir tem-
perature =
less than
5 °C (41
°F)Open
3 or 4
timesON OFF
Air tem-
perature =
more than
5 °C (41
°F)None ON OFF
Air tem-
perature
(normal
tempera-
ture) = be-
tween 5
°C (41 °F)
and 25 °C
(77 °F)NoneON/
OFFOFF
Air tem-
perature =
more than
25 °C (77
°F)None OFF OFF
Starting an en-
gine after a long
period of timeNone ON OFF
Restarting a
warm engineNone OFF ON
Restarting an
engine after a
fallNone OFF ON
* Operate the throttle grip before kick
starting.

1-14
STARTING AND BREAK-IN
BREAK-IN PROCEDURES
1. Before starting the engine, fill the
fuel tank with the fuel.
2. Perform the pre-operation checks
on the machine.
3. Start and warm up the engine.
Check the idle speed, and check
the operation of the controls and
the engine stop switch. Then, re-
start the engine and check its op-
eration within no more than 5
minutes after it is restarted.
4. Operate the machine in the lower
gears at moderate throttle open-
ings for five to eight minutes.
5. Check how the engine runs when
the machine is ridden with the
throttle 1/4 to 1/2 open (low to me-
dium speed) for about one hour.
6. Restart the engine and check the
operation of the machine through-
out its entire operating range. Re-
start the machine and operate it
for about 10 to 15 more minutes.
The machine will now be ready to
race.
• After the break-in or before each
race, you must check the entire
machine for loose fittings and
fasteners as per "TORQUE-
CHECK POINTS". Tighten all
such fasteners as required.
• When any of the following parts
have been replaced, they must
be broken in.
CYLINDER AND CRANKSHAFT:
About one hour of break-in oper-
ation is necessary.
PISTON, RING, VALVES, CAM-
SHAFTS AND GEARS:
These parts require about 30
minutes of break-in operation at
half-throttle or less. Observe the
condition of the engine carefully
during operation.