torque YAMAHA YZ450F 2012 User Guide

4-12
CAMSHAFTS
c. Fit the timing chain "3" onto both
camshaft sprockets and install the
camshafts on the cylinder head.
Make sure that the alignment mark
"c" on the exhaust camshaft sprocket
and the alignment mark "d" on the in-
take camshaft sprocket are aligned
with the edge of the cylinder head.
Do not turn the crankshaft during
the camshaft installation. Damage
or improper valve timing will re-
sult.
d. Install the clips, camshaft caps "4"
and bolts (camshaft cap) "5".
• Before installing the clips, cover the
cylinder head with a clean rag to
prevent the clips from into the cylin-
der head cavity.
• Tighten the bolts to the specified
torque in two or three steps in the
proper tightening sequence as
shown.
The bolts (camshaft cap) must be
tightened evenly, or damage to the
cylinder head, camshaft caps, and
camshaft will result.
2. Install:
• Timing chain tensioner
Installation steps:
a. While pressing the tensioner rod
lightly with fingers, use a thin
screwdriver and wind the tension-
er rod up fully clockwise.
b. With the rod fully wound and the
chain tensioner UP mark "a" fac-
ing upward, install the gasket "1",
the timing chain tensioner "2", and
the gasket "3", and tighten the bolt
"4" to the specified torque.
c. Release the screwdriver, check
the tensioner rod to come out and
tighten the gasket "5" and the cap
bolt "6" to the specified torque.
3. Turn:
• Crankshaft
Counterclockwise several turns.
4. Check:
• Alignment mark
Align with the crankcase align
mark.
• Camshaft match marks
Align with the cylinder head sur-
face.
Out of alignment→Adjust. Bolt (camshaft cap):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Bolt (timing chain ten-
sioner):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Tensioner cap bolt:
7 Nm (0.7 m•kg, 5.1
ft•lb)

4-15
CYLINDER HEAD
CHECKING THE CYLINDER HEAD
1. Eliminate:
• Carbon deposits (from the com-
bustion chambers)
Use a rounded scraper.
Do not use a sharp instrument to
avoid damaging or scratching:
• Spark plug threads
• Valve seats
2. Inspect:
• Cylinder head
Scratches/damage → Replace.
Replace the titanium valves with the
cylinder head.
Refer to"CHECKING THE VALVE".
3. Measure:
• Cylinder head warpage
Out of specification → Resur-
face.
Warpage measurement and resur-
facing steps:
a. Place a straightedge and a feeler
gauge across the cylinder head.
b. Use a feeler gauge to measure
the warpage.
c. If the warpage is out of specifica-
tion, resurface the cylinder head.
d. Place a 400–600 grit wet sandpa-
per on the surface plate, and re-
surface the head using a figure-
eight sanding pattern.
To ensure an even surface rotate the
cylinder head several times.
INSTALLING THE CYLINDER
HEAD
1. Install:
• Timing chain guide (intake side)
"1"
• Dowel pin "2"
• Cylinder head gasket "3"
• Cylinder head "4"
While pulling up the timing chain, in-
stall the timing chain guide (intake
side) and cylinder head.
2. Install:
• Washer "1"
• Bolts "2"
Installation steps:
Tighten the cylinder head using
the rotation angle procedure to ob-
tain uniform tightening torque.
a. Wash the threads and contact
surfaces of the bolts, the contact
surfaces of the plain washers, the
contact surface of the cylinder
head, and the threads of the
crankcase.
b. Apply the molybdenum disulfide
grease on the threads and con-
tact surfaces of the bolts and on
both contact surfaces of the plain
washers.
c. Install the plain washers and
bolts.d. Tighten the bolts to the specified
torque in two or three steps in the
proper tightening sequence as
shown.
e. Remove the bolts.
f. Again apply the molybdenum dis-
ulfide grease on the threads and
contact surfaces of the bolts and
on both contact surfaces of the
plain washers.
g. Retighten the bolts.
Tighten the bolts to the specified
torque in two or three steps in the
proper tightening sequence as
shown.
h. Put a mark on the corner "1" of the
bolt (cylinder head) and the cylin-
der head "2" as shown. Cylinder head warpage:
Less than 0.05 mm
(0.002 in)
Bolts (cylinder head):
1st:
30 Nm (3.0 m•kg, 22
ft•lb)
Bolts (cylinder head):
2nd:
20 Nm (2.0 m•kg, 14
ft•lb)

5-20
FRONT FORK
5. Measure:
• Oil level (left and right) "a"
Out of specification → Adjust.
6. Tighten:
• Locknut "1"
Fully finger tighten the locknut onto
the damper assembly.
7. Loosen:
• Compression damping adjuster
"1"
• Loosen the compression damping
adjuster finger tight.
• Record the set position of the ad-
juster (the amount of turning out the
fully turned in position).
8. Install:
• Base valve "1"
To damper assembly "2".
First bring the damper rod pressure to
a maximum. Then install the base
valve while releasing the damper rod
pressure.
9. Check:
• Damper assembly
Not fully stretched → Repeat the
steps 2 to 8.
10. Tighten:
• Base valve "1"
Hold the damper assembly with the
cap bolt ring wrench "2" and use the
cap bolt wrench "3" to tighten the
base valve with specified torque.
11. After filling, pump the damper as-
sembly "1" slowly up and down
more than 10 times to distribute
the fork oil.12. While protecting the damper as-
sembly "1" with a rag and com-
pressing fully, allow excessive oil
to overflow on the base valve
side.
Take care not to damage the damp-
er assembly.
13. Allow the overflowing oil to es-
cape at the hole "a" in the damper
assembly.
The overflow measures about 8
cm3(0.28 Imp oz, 0.27 US oz).
14. Check:
• Damper assembly smooth move-
ment
Tightness/binding/rough spots →
Repeat the steps 2 to 13. Standard oil level:
145-148 mm (5.71-5.83
in)
From top of fully
stretched damper as-
sembly.
Base valve:
29 Nm (2.9 m•kg, 21 ft•
lb)
Cap bolt wrench:
YM-01500/90890-01500
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501

5-22
FRONT FORK
25. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To inner tube "2".
To install the damper assembly
into the inner tube, hold the inner
tube aslant. If the inner tube is held
vertically, the damper assembly
may fall into it, damaging the valve
inside.
26. Loosen:
• Rebound damping adjuster "1"
• Loosen the rebound damping ad-
juster finger tight.
• Record the set position of the ad-
juster (the amount of turning out the
fully turned in position).
27. Install:
• Push rod "1"
• Copper washer "2"
• Adjuster "3"
To damper assembly "4".
• While compressing the inner tube
"5", set the cap bolt ring wrench "7"
between the inner tube and locknut
"6".
• Fully finger tighten the adjuster onto
the damper assembly.
28. Inspect:
• Gap "a" between the adjuster "1"
and locknut "2".
Out of specification → Retighten
and readjust the locknut.
If the adjuster is installed out of spec-
ification, proper damping force can-
not be obtained.
29. Tighten:
• Adjuster (locknut) "1"
Hold the locknut "2" and tighten the
adjuster with specified torque.
30. Install:
• Adjuster "1"
To inner tube.31. Fill:
• Front fork oil "1"
From outer tube top.
Never fail to make the oil amount
adjustment between the maximum
and minimum amount and always
adjust each front fork to the same
setting. Uneven adjustment can
cause poor handling and loss of
stability.
• Be sure to use recommended
fork oil. If other oils are used,
they may have an excessively ad-
verse effect on the front fork per-
formance.
• Never allow foreign materials to
enter the front fork.
32. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To outer tube.
Temporarily tighten the damper as-
sembly.
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Gap "a" between the ad-
juster and locknut:
0.5–1.0 mm (0.02–0.04
in)
Adjuster (locknut):
29 Nm (2.9 m•kg, 21
ft•lb)
Adjuster:
55 Nm (5.5 m•kg, 40
ft•lb)
Recommended oil:
Suspension oil "S1"
Standard oil amount:
355 cm
3 (12.5 Imp oz,
12.0 US oz)
Extent of adjustment:
300–365 cm
3
(10.6–12.8 Imp
oz,10.1–12.3 US oz)

5-23
FRONT FORK
33. Install:
• Protector guide "1"
INSTALLING THE FRONT FORK
1. Install:
• Front fork "1"
• Temporarily tighten the pinch bolts
(lower bracket).
• Do not tighten the pinch bolts (up-
per bracket) yet.
2. Tighten:
• Damper assembly "1"
Use the cap bolt ring wrench "2" to
tighten the damper assembly with
specified torque.
3. Adjust:
• Front fork top end "a"4. Tighten:
• Pinch bolt (upper bracket) "1"
• Pinch bolt (lower bracket) "2"
Tighten the lower bracket to speci-
fied torque. If torqued too much, it
may cause the front fork to mal-
function.
5. Install:
• Protector "1"
• Bolt (protector) "2"
6. Adjust:
• Rebound damping force
Turn in the damping adjuster "1" fin-
ger-tight and then turn out to the orig-
inally set position.
7. Adjust:
• Compression damping force
Turn in the damping adjuster "1" fin-
ger-tight and then turn out to the orig-
inally set position.
Damper assembly:
30 Nm (3.0 m•kg, 22
ft•lb)
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Front fork top end (stan-
dard) "a":
Zero mm (Zero in)
Pinch bolt (upper brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)
Pinch bolt (lower brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)
Bolt (protector):
5 Nm (0.5 m•kg, 3.6
ft•lb)

5-31
STEERING
6. Install:
• Washer "1"
7. Install:
• Front fork "1"
• Upper bracket "2"
• Temporarily tighten the pinch bolts
(lower bracket).
• Do not tighten the pinch bolts (up-
per bracket) yet.
8. Install:
• Steering stem nut "1"
Apply the lithium soap base grease
on the contact surface of the steering
stem nut when installing.
9. After tightening the nut, check the
steering for smooth movement. If
not, adjust the steering by loosen-
ing the steering ring nut little by lit-
tle.10. Adjust:
• Front fork top end "a"
11. Tighten:
• Pinch bolt (upper bracket) "1"
• Pinch bolt (lower bracket) "2"
Tighten the lower bracket to speci-
fied torque. If torqued too much, it
may cause the front fork to mal-
function.Steering stem nut:
145 Nm (14.5 m•kg, 105
ft•lb)
Front fork top end (stan-
dard) "a":
Zero mm (Zero in)
Pinch bolt (upper brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)
Pinch bolt (lower brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)

8-4
CHASSIS
SUSPENSION SETTING (FRONT FORK)
• If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make resetting by reference to
the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
• Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90–100 mm (3.5–3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedi-
um
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire
range○○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth move-
ment over entire
range○○○○Outer tube Check for any bends, dents, and other noticeable
scars, etc. If any, replace affected parts.
Inner tube
Slide metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Piston metal Replace with a new one for extended use.
Under bracket tighten-
ing torqueRetighten to specified torque.
Poor initial move-
ment○Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Oil seal Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire
range, bottoming
out○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).
Spring Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward stroke
end○Oil amountDecrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Soft toward stroke
end, bottoming out○Oil amountIncrease oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp
oz,0.2 US oz).
Stiff initial move-
ment○○○○Compression dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low front, tending to
lower front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to in-
crease damping.
Rebound damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 95–100 mm (3.7–3.9 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (lower rear
posture).
Oil amount Increase oil amount by about 5 cm
3 (0.2 Imp oz,
0.2 US oz).
"Obtrusive" front,
tending to upper
front posture○○Compression damping Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Balance with rear end Set sunken length for 90–95 mm (3.5–3.7 in)
when one passenger is astride seat (upper rear
posture).
Spring Replace with soft spring.
Oil amount Decrease oil amount by about 5–10 cm
3 (0.2–0.4
Imp oz, 0.2–0.3 US oz).