Yamaha RHINO 450, RHINO User Manual

READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY!

It contains important safety information.

OWNER’S MANUAL

YXR45FX

2P5-F8199-12LIT-11626-21-21

EBU00776

EVU00010

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha YXR45FX. It represents the result of many
years of Yamaha experience in the production of fine sporting, touring, and pace-setting racing
vehicles. With the purchase of this Yamaha, you can now appreciate the high degree of crafts­manship and reliability that have made Yamaha a leader in these fields.
This manual will provide you with a good basic understanding of the features and operation of this
vehicle. It also includes basic maintenance and inspection procedures. If you have any questions
regarding the operation or maintenance of your vehicle, please consult a Yamaha dealer.

WARNING

Please read this manual carefully before operating this vehicle. Do not attempt to operate
this vehicle until you have attained adequate knowledge of its controls and operating fea­tures. Regular inspections and careful maintenance, along with good operating tech­niques, will help ensure that you safely enjoy the capabilities and reliability of this vehicle.

EVU00021

IMPORTANT MANUAL INFORMATION

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE WARNINGS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL CAN RESULT IN SE­RIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
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
personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this
symbol to avoid possible injury or death.

WARNING

NOTICE

TIP

*Product and specifications are subject to change without notice.

A WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.

A NOTICE indicates special precautions that must be taken to
avoid damage to the vehicle or other property.

A TIP provides key information to make procedures easier or clearer.

EVU00030

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT USE

● This vehicle is designed and manufactured for off-road use only. Use on public streets,

roads, or highways is not only illegal in most areas, it also increases the risk of an acci­dent involving other vehicles. This vehicle does not meet federal motor vehicle safety
standards for on-road use.

● Check the laws and regulations in force before choosing where to operate this vehicle.

It is illegal to operate this vehicle on public lands where vehicles its size are prohibited.

● This vehicle complies with almost all state off-highway noise level and spark arrester

laws and regulations.

YXR45FX

OWNER’S MANUAL

©2007 by Yamaha Motor Corporation,

U.S.A.

1st edition, July 2007
All rights reserved. Any reprinting or
unauthorized use without the written

permission of

Yamaha Motor Corporation,

U.S.A. is expressly prohibited.

Printed in U.S.A.

P/N LIT-11626-21-21

EVU00050

CONTENTS

LOCATION OF THE WARNING

1

AND SPECIFICATION LABELS....... 1-1

SAFETY INFORMATION.................. 2-1

2

DESCRIPTION .................................3-1

3

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL

4

FUNCTIONS .....................................4-1

Main switch...................................... 4-1

Indicator and warning lights ............ 4-2

Indicator and warning lights

(Special Edition models) ............... 4-5

Multi-function meter unit

(Special Edition models) ............... 4-7

Switches ........................................ 4-10

Accelerator pedal .......................... 4-12

Brake pedal ................................... 4-12

Parking brake lever ....................... 4-13

Drive select lever........................... 4-14

Fuel tank cap................................. 4-14

Fuel level check window................4-15

Starter (choke) ..............................4-15

Doors..............................................4-16

Seats..............................................4-16

Seat belts .......................................4-17

Glove compartment .......................4-18

Cargo bed ......................................4-18

Front and rear shock absorber

adjustment ...................................4-20

Trailer hitch bracket and

receiver ........................................4-22

Auxiliary DC jack............................4-22

FOR YOUR SAFETY –

5

PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ............5-1

Front and rear brakes ......................5-3

Fuel ..................................................5-4

Engine oil .........................................5-6

Coolant.............................................5-7

Final gear oil ....................................5-7

Differential gear oil...........................5-7

Accelerator pedal.............................5-8

Seat belts .........................................5-8

Steering........................................... 5-8

Fittings and fasteners...................... 5-8

Lights............................................... 5-9

Switches.......................................... 5-9

Control cables ................................. 5-9

Tires ................................................ 5-9

OPERATION..................................... 6-1

6

Engine break-in............................... 6-1

Starting a cold engine ..................... 6-2

Starting a warm engine................... 6-5

Warming up..................................... 6-5

Drive select lever operation and

reverse driving............................... 6-6

On-Command four-wheel-drive

switch and differential gear lock

switch ............................................ 6-8

Parking .......................................... 6-10

Loading ......................................... 6-11

BASIC GUIDE FOR SAFE USE....... 7-1

7

KNOW YOUR VEHICLE................. 7-1

Driver requirements ........................ 7-2

Passenger requirements .................7-3

Occupant protection system............7-4

Protective structure..........................7-5

Seat belts.........................................7-6

Doors ...............................................7-8

Passenger handholds......................7-9

Seat and hip restraints ..................7-10

Floorboard .....................................7-10

Steering wheel...............................7-11

LEARNING TO OPERATE

YOUR VEHICLE..........................7-12

Personal protective equipment......7-12

Practice for new Rhino users ........ 7-13

Getting ready to ride......................7-14

Turning...........................................7-14

Accelerating...................................7-15

Braking...........................................7-16

Engine braking...............................7-16

Leaving the vehicle........................7-16

Parking on a flat area ....................7-17

Parking on a slope.........................7-17

Loading..........................................7-17

Operation on different surfaces

and terrains.................................. 7-18

Hills................................................ 7-19

Uphill.............................................. 7-19

Downhill ......................................... 7-20

Rough terrain................................. 7-21

Pavement ......................................7-21

Water ............................................. 7-22

Loose terrain/slippery terrain.........7-23

Brush or wooded areas ................. 7-23

Encountering obstacles................. 7-24

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND

8

ADJUSTMENT.................................. 8-1

Owner’s manual and tool kit............ 8-2

Periodic maintenance chart for the

emission control system................ 8-4

General maintenance and

lubrication chart............................. 8-5

Hood ................................................ 8-7

Console ...........................................8-9

Engine oil and oil filter cartridge.... 8-10

Final gear oil..................................8-15

Differential gear oil.........................8-17

Coolant...........................................8-19

Axle boots ......................................8-20

Spark plug inspection ....................8-21

Cleaning the air filter elements ......8-24

Drive select lever box check

hose .............................................8-29

V-belt cooling duct check hoses....8-29

V-belt case drain plug ....................8-30

Cleaning the spark arrester ...........8-31

Carburetor adjustment...................8-32

Idle speed adjustment....................8-33

Valve clearance .............................8-33

Brakes............................................8-34

Front brake pad check...................8-34

Rear brake pad check....................8-35

Checking the brake fluid level........8-35

Brake fluid replacement.................8-36

Checking the brake pedal..............8-37

Parking brake lever free play

adjustment ...................................8-37

Brake light switch adjustment ........8-39

Cable inspection and lubrication....8-40

Brake pedal and accelerator

pedal lubrication.......................... 8-40

Rear knuckle upper and lower

pivot lubrication ........................... 8-41

Steering shaft lubrication .............. 8-41

Wheel removal .............................. 8-42

Tire replacement........................... 8-42

Wheel installation.......................... 8-43

Battery........................................... 8-45

Battery maintenance..................... 8-46

Jump-starting ................................ 8-47

Fuse replacement ......................... 8-49

Replacing a headlight bulb ........... 8-51

Headlight beam adjustment.......... 8-53

Tail/brake light bulb

replacement ................................ 8-54

Troubleshooting ............................ 8-56

Troubleshooting charts ................. 8-57

CLEANING AND STORAGE............ 9-1

9

A. Cleaning...................................... 9-1

B. Storage ....................................... 9-2

SPECIFICATIONS ..........................10-1

10

CONSUMER INFORMATION ........ 11-1

11

Identification number records........11-1

NOISE REGULATION...................11-4

MAINTENANCE RECORD ...........11-5

YAMAHA MOTOR

CORPORATION, U.S.A.
SIDE × SIDE VEHICLE LIMITED

WARRANTY................................11-6

YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE

(Y.E.S.) ........................................11-7

EVU00060

1

3

1-

LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND

SPECIFICATION LABELS

2

3

4

5

8

65

7

1-1

Read and understand all of the labels on your vehicle. They contain important information for safe
and proper operation of your vehicle.
Never remove any labels from your vehicle. If a label becomes difficult to read or comes off, a re­placement label is available from your Yamaha dealer.

12 3

!

WARNING

Any part of your
body (arms, legs,
or head) outside of
the vehicle can be
crushed by the
cage/frame.

If you think or fe el
that the vehicle
may tip or roll,
brace your feet on
the floorboards,
and keep your
hands on the
handholds.

Do not try to stop a
vehicle tipover
using your arm or
leg.

!

WARNING

Any part of your
body (arms, legs,
or head) outside of
the vehicle can be
crushed by the
cage/frame.

If you think or fe el
that the vehicle
may tip or roll,
brace your feet on
the floorboards,
and keep your
hands on the
steering wheel.

Do not try to stop a
vehicle tipover
using your arm or
leg.

!

WARNING

Do not rest hands on door or hip restraint
bar. To avoid injury, keep hands completely
inside the vehicle by holding the steering
wheel or handholds.

YAMAHA 5B4-K8483-00

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

5B4-K7762-00

5B4-K7761-00

1-2

45

!

WARNING

Improper tire pressure or overloading the Rhino may
cause severe injury or death from loss of control or
rollover.

OPERATING TIRE PRESSURE: Set with tires cold.
RECOMMENDED:

2

FRONT: 70kPa, (.70kgf/cm
REAR: 98kPa, (.98kgf/cm

MINIMUM: FRONT: 63kPa, (.63kgf/cm

REAR: 91kPa, (.91kgf/cm

), 10psi

2

), 14psi

2

), 9psi

2

), 13psi

Never set or allow tire pressure to be below the
minimum. Tire may dislodge from rim.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 907 kg (2000 lb)
maximum including vehicle, weight of operator,
passenger, accessories, cargo, and (if applicable)

trailer tongue weight.

YAMAHA 5B4-F1696-00

!

WARNING

Keep hands, body, and other
people away from pinch points
when lowering bed. Do not hold
the cage/frame while closing bed.

YAMAHA 5B4-K7764-00

1-3

67

!

WARNING

Improper use of cargo bed or cage/frame can result in
severe injury or death from loss of control, overturn or
other accidents.

 Do not carry passengers in cargo bed.
 Maximum load in cargo bed: 181 kg (400 lb).
 Load or trailer may affect handling and stability:

 Secure cargo so that it will not shift  a loose load

could change handling unexpectedly or be thrown
forward and strike occupants.

 Keep weight in the cargo bed centered side to side,

and as low and as far forward as possible. Top-
heavy loads increase the risk of overturn.

 Do not tow or pull objects from any point other than

the trailer hitch bracket or winch (if installed).

 When loaded with cargo or towing a trailer:

 Reduce speed and allow more room to stop.
 Turn gradually and go slowly.
 Avoid hills and rough terrain.

 Read Owners Manual before loading, towing, or pulling
objects.

YAMAHA 5UG-F151J-00

MAX 7.3 INCH

(185MM)

YAMAHA 5B4-F4897-00

1-4

89

!

WARNING

Improperly loading a trailer
or pulling an object can
affect handling, stability, and
risk of overturn or other
accidents.

Secure load to prevent it
from shifting.
Never load more than 50 kg
(110 lb) tongue weight on
the towing bracket.
Do not tow more than 550
kg (1212 lb) rolling weight
(trailer plus cargo).
Tow or pull only from hitch
bracket.
Read Owner s Manual
before loading, towing, or
pulling objects.

YAMAHA 5B4-F151K-00

Head to Toe

Safety Checklist

ü

Head Helmet and eye protection.

ü

Body Seatbelt and protective clothing.

ü

Hands Inside vehicle and holding the

ü

Feet On floorboard, ready to brace,

YAMAHA 5B4-F1558-00

handholds or steering wheel.
and door closed.

1-5

0

!

WARNING

Be Prepared

•

Wear seat belt, motorcycle helmet,
eye protectionand protective gear.

•

Keep your body completely inside
the vehicleat all times. Keep both
hands on the steering wheel. Be
sure passengeris seated, belted,
and holdingonto the handholds.

Be Qualified and Responsible

•

This vehicleis intended for use
only byan operator 16 or older
with a valid motor vehicle license.

 Passenger and drivermust be able to

place both feet flat on the floorboard while
seated uprightwith their backs against the
seat backs.

•

Do not drive or ride as passenger after
using drugsor alcohol.

•

Do not operate on publicroads.

YAMAHA 5B4-F1568-01

To reduce risk of accidents and injury or death:

Avoid Rollovers and Crushing Injuries

•

DRIVER

•

UNDER

16

•

If you think or feel the Rhino may tip or roll:

•

•

Read the Owners Manual

Use carewhen turning:

o Turning the steering wheel too far or too fast

can resultin a rolloveror loss of control.
o Slow down before entering a turn.
o When making tight turns froma stop or at slow

speeds, avoidsudden or hard acceleration.
o Avoid sideways sliding, skidding, or fishtailing,

and never do donuts.

Drive straight up and down inclines, not across
them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable, drive slowly
and turn downhill immediately if you feel the
vehicle may tip.

Avoid pavedsurfaces. Turn gradually and go
slowly if you must drive on pavement. This vehicle
is designedfor off-road use only.

Brace yourselfby pressing your feet firmlyon the
floorboards and keep a firm grip on the steering
wheel orhandholds.

Do not put your handsor feet outsideof the
vehicle for any reason.

Abrupt maneuvers or
aggressive driving have
caused rollovers  even on
flat, openareas.

Genuine Yamaha Doors and
a Handhold/Strap are
available for free installation
or replacement.

recommends these features to
help keepoccupants from
sticking arms or legs out of the
vehicle during a rollover.

Contact yourdealer or visit

www.yamaha-motor.com/rhino

Yamaha

1-6

EVU00070

SAFETY INFORMATION

Be a responsible owner

As the vehicle’s owner, you are responsible for the safe and proper operation of your Rhino.
While understanding all parts of this manual are important for vehicle ownership, be sure to read
this chapter and the instructions in Chapter 7 before operating the Rhino. Also use these two
chapters and the labels on the vehicle to instruct new operators and passengers. Do not allow
anyone else to operate your vehicle or ride as a passenger if you are unsure that he/she is willing
and able to follow these instructions.

Get to know your vehicle

This off-road vehicle will handle and maneuver differently from cars, ATVs, go-carts, golf-cars and
grounds-keeping vehicles. Follow these instructions to reduce your risk of an accident and to re­duce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident.

2-1

Before you operate the Rhino

● Prepare yourself and your passenger:

• This vehicle is intended for use only by an operator 16 or older with a valid motor vehicle li­cense.

1

2

3

DRIVER
UNDER

16

• This vehicle is designed to carry the driver and one passenger. Never carry passengers in
the cargo bed.

• Both driver and passenger should wear seat belts properly.

• Both driver and passenger must be able to put both feet flat on the floorboard while seated

upright with their backs against the seat backs. Passenger must be able to reach and hold
the handholds within the cage/frame.

• Both driver and passenger should wear an approved motorcycle helmet that fits properly.
Both driver and passenger should also wear eye protection (goggles or a face shield),
gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, and long pants.

• Do not drive or ride as passenger after using drugs or alcohol.

2-2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Prepare your vehicle

Perform the pre-operation checks each time you use the vehicle to make sure it is in safe operat­ing condition. Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an ac­cident or equipment damage. See pages 5-1–5-2 for a list of pre-operation checks.

Prepare your load or trailer

Carrying loads, towing a trailer, or pulling objects can affect handling, stability, and risk of overturn
or other accidents.

• Read Chapter 6 before loading, towing, or pulling objects.

• Do not overload the vehicle or trailer. Refer to label in cargo bed for cargo bed load limit. Re-

fer to label next to hitch for tongue weight and trailer load limits.

• Keep weight in the cargo bed centered side to side, and as low and as far forward as pos­sible.

• Secure cargo so that it will not shift – a loose load could change handling unexpectedly or be
thrown forward and strike occupants.

2-3

While using the Rhino

● Keep your body completely inside the vehicle at all times. Keep both hands on the steering

wheel. Be sure passenger is seated, belted, and holding onto the handholds. Close doors be­fore driving. Any part of your body (arms, legs, and head) outside the vehicle can be struck by
objects your vehicle is passing or crushed by the vehicle cage/frame in a rollover accident.

● Watch for branches, brush, or other hazards that could enter the vehicle.

● Abrupt maneuvers or aggressive driving, even on flat, open areas, can cause loss of control,

including rollovers. The Rhino has higher ground clearance and other features to handle rug­ged terrain, and, as a result, can overturn in situations where some other vehicles may not.

2-4

Avoid rollovers:

●

• Use care when turning:

• Turning the steering wheel too far or too fast can result in a rollover.

• Avoid sideways sliding, skidding, or fishtailing, and never do donuts.

• Slow down before entering a turn and avoid hard braking in a turn.

• When making tight turns from a stop or at slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard accelera-

tion.

2-5

• Drive straight up and down inclines, not across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable, drive
slowly and turn downhill immediately if you feel the vehicle may tip.

• Avoid paved surfaces. Turn gradually and go slowly if you must drive on pavement. This ve­hicle is designed for off-road use only.

● If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or roll, keep your body completely inside the protec-

tive structure of the vehicle:

• Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly on the floorboards and keep a firm grip on the
steering wheel or handholds.

• Do not put your hands or feet outside of the vehicle for any reason. Your arm or leg could be
crushed.

• Do not try to stop a vehicle tipover using your arm or leg.

● Do not operate this vehicle on any public street, road, or highway, even if dirt or gravel.

● Do not operate the vehicle in fast-flowing water or water deeper than 33 cm (13 in). If you must

cross shallow, slow-moving water, choose your path carefully to avoid sharp drop-offs, large
rocks, or slippery surfaces. Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-flowing water can lead
to loss of control or overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or other injuries, use care when
crossing through water.

2-6

When loaded with cargo or towing a trailer:

●

• Reduce speed, operate in low gear only, and allow more room to stop.

• Avoid hills and rough terrain. Use extreme caution when towing or carrying a load on in-

clines.

• Load trailer properly and use extra care when towing or pulling.

● Do not tow or pull objects from any part of the vehicle other than the trailer hitch bracket or

winch (if installed).

2-7

Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

All engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a deadly gas. Breathing carbon monoxide can
cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, and eventually death.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas which may be present even if you do not
see or smell any engine exhaust. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can collect rapidly and you
can quickly be overcome and unable to save yourself. Also, deadly levels of carbon monoxide
can linger for hours or days in enclosed or poorly-ventilated areas. If you experience any symp­toms of carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the area immediately, get fresh air, and SEEK MEDI­CAL TREATMENT.

● Do not run engine indoors. Even if you try to ventilate engine exhaust with fans or open win-

dows and doors, carbon monoxide can rapidly reach dangerous levels.

● Do not run engine in poorly ventilated or partially enclosed areas such as barns, garages, or

carports.

● Do not run engine outdoors where engine exhaust can be drawn into a building through open-

ings such as windows and doors.

2-8

Genuine Yamaha Accessories

Choosing accessories for your Rhino is an important decision. Genuine Yamaha Accessories,
which are available only from a Yamaha dealer, have been designed, tested, and approved by

Yamaha for use on your Rhino.

Many companies with no connection to Yamaha manufacture parts and accessories or offer other
modifications for Yamaha vehicles. Yamaha is not in a position to test the products that these af­termarket companies produce. Therefore, Yamaha can neither endorse nor recommend the use
of accessories not sold by Yamaha or modifications not specifically recommended by Yamaha,
even if sold and installed by a Yamaha dealer.

Aftermarket parts, accessories, and modifications

While you may find aftermarket products similar in design and quality to genuine Yamaha Acces­sories, recognize that some aftermarket accessories or modifications are not suitable because of
potential safety hazards to you or others. Installing aftermarket products or having other modifica­tions performed to your Rhino that change any of the vehicle’s design or operation characteristics
can put you and others at greater risk of serious injury or death. You are responsible for injuries
related to changes in the vehicle.

2-9

Aftermarket tires and rims

The tires and rims that came with your Rhino were designed to match the performance capabili­ties and to provide the best combination of handling, braking, and comfort. Other tires, rims, sizes,
and combinations may not be appropriate. Refer to pages 8-42–8-44 for tire specifications and
more information on replacing your tires.

2-10

EVU00080

1-

DESCRIPTION

C

1. Headlights

2. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting ring

3. Brake fluid reservoir

4. Air filter elements (engine and air intake duct)

5. V-belt case

6. Driver seat

7. Driver seat belt

8. Cargo bed

9. Tail/brake lights

10. Rear shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting ring

11. Cargo bed release levers

12. Spark plug

13. Door

D

14. Spark arrester

15. Passenger seat belt

16. Passenger seat

17. Oil filter cartridge

18. Passenger handhold

19. Engine oil filler cap

20. Battery

21. Fuses

22. Coolant reservoir

23. Radiator cap

24. Fuel level check window

25. Fuel tank cap

3-1

FG

IHEJKLM

NCO

PQ RST UV W X

The vehicle you have purchased may differ
slightly from those shown in the figures of this
manual.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

[Z Y

26. Light switch

27. Steering wheel

28. Starter (choke)

29. Main switch

30. On-Command four-wheel-drive and differential gear lock switches

31. Indicator and warning lights

32. Multi-function meter unit (Special Edition models)

33. Auxiliary DC jack

34. Drive select lever

35. Parking brake lever

36. Accelerator pedal

37. Brake pedal

H

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

3-2

EVU00130

1-

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL

FUNCTIONS

EVU00140

Main switch

OFF

ON

F

F

O

O

N

S

T

A

R

START

T

1. Main switch

Functions of the respective switch positions
are as follows:
ON:

All electrical circuits are supplied with
power, and the headlights and tail­lights come on when the light switch is
on.

OFF:

All electrical circuits are switched off.
The key can be removed in this posi­tion.

START:

The electric starter is engaged by
turning and holding the key in this po­sition. Release the key when the en­gine starts.

4-1

Indicator and warning lights

1. Parking brake indicator light “P”

2. Reverse indicator light “R”

3. Neutral indicator light “N”

4. On-Command four-wheel-drive indicator light “”

5. On-Command differential gear lock indicator light “”

6. Coolant temperature warning light “”

DIFF.
LOCK

EVU00210

Parking brake indicator light “P”

This indicator light comes on when the park­ing brake is applied.

EVU00161

Reverse indicator light “R”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “R” reverse position.
Furthermore, this indicator light flashes when
the engine is being raced for 10 seconds or
more.
If the indicator light flashes under any other
circumstances, have a Yamaha dealer check
the speed sensor circuit.

EVU00170

Neutral indicator light “N”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “N” position.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

4-2

On-Command four-wheel-drive indicator
light “”

This indicator light comes on when the
On-Command four-wheel-drive switch is in
the “4WD” position.
Due to the synchronizing mechanism in the
differential gear case, the light may not come
on until the vehicle starts moving.

EVU00181

Coolant temperature warning light “”

If the coolant temperature reaches a specified
level, this light comes on to warn that the cool­ant temperature is too hot. If the light comes
on during operation, stop the engine as soon
as it is safe to do so and allow the engine to
cool down for about 10 minutes.
(See page 8-58.)

On-Command differential gear lock indica-

DIFF.

tor light “”

LOCK

This indicator light comes on when the
On-Command differential gear lock switch is
set to the “LOCK” position.

● The engine may overheat if the vehicle

is overloaded. If this happens, reduce
the load to specification.

● After restarting, make sure that the light

is out. Continuous use while the light is
on may cause damage to the engine.

4-3

Coolant temperature warning light checking method

Turn the main switch to “ON”.

Coolant temperature warning
light does not come on.

Turn the main switch to “START” with
the transmission in the neutral position.

Coolant temperature
warning light comes on
momentarily.

Coolant temperature and
electrical circuit are OK.
Go ahead with riding.

Coolant temperature
warning light comes on.

Coolant temperature
warning light does not
come on.

Ask a Yamaha dealer to
inspect the electrical circuit.

4-4

EVU00150

Indicator and warning lights (Special Edition models)

1. On-Command differential gear lock indicator light
“DIFF. LOCK”

2. Low-range indicator light “L”

3. High-range indicator light “H”

4. Neutral indicator light “N”

5. Reverse indicator light “R”

6. Parking brake indicator light “P”

7. On-Command four-wheel-drive/differential gear lock
indicator “”/“”

8. Coolant temperature warning light “”

DIFF.
LOCK

EVU01131

On-Command differential gear lock indica­tor light “DIFF. LOCK”

This indicator light and the On-Command dif­ferential gear lock indicator in the display
come on when the On-Command differential
gear lock switch is set to the “LOCK” position.

When the switch is set to “LOCK”, the On-
Command differential gear lock indicator light
will flash until the differential gear is locked.

EVU01140

Low-range indicator light “L”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “L” position.

EVU01150

High-range indicator light “H”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “H” position.

4-5

EVU00170

Neutral indicator light “N”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “N” position.

EVU00161

Reverse indicator light “R”

This indicator light comes on when the drive
select lever is in the “R” reverse position.
Furthermore, this indicator light flashes when
the engine is being raced for 10 seconds or
more.

If the indicator light flashes under any other
circumstances or the speedometer does not
show the speed while riding, have a Yamaha
dealer check the speed sensor circuit.

EVU00210

Parking brake indicator light “P”

This indicator light comes on when the park­ing brake is applied.

EVU01161

On-Command four-wheel-drive/differential

DIFF.

gear lock indicator “”/“”

LOCK

The On-Command four-wheel-drive indicator
“” comes on when the On-Command four­wheel-drive switch is set to the “4WD” posi-
tion.

The On-Command differential gear lock indi-

DIFF.

cator “” in the On-Command four-wheel-

LOCK

drive indicator also comes on when the On­Command differential gear lock switch is set
to the “LOCK” position.

● Due to the synchronizing mechanism in the

differential gear case, the four-wheel-drive
indicator may not come on until the vehicle
starts moving.

● When the On-Command differential gear

lock switch is set to “LOCK”, the indicator

DIFF.
LOCK

“” will flash until the differential gear is
locked.

4-6

EVU00181

Coolant temperature warning light “”

If the coolant temperature reaches a specified
level, this light comes on to warn that the cool­ant temperature is too hot. If the light comes
on during operation, stop the engine as soon
as it is safe to do so and allow the engine to
cool down for about 10 minutes.
(See page 8-58.)

NOTICE

● The engine may overheat if the vehicle

is overloaded. If this happens, reduce
the load to specification.

● After restarting, make sure that the light

is out. Continuous use while the light is
on may cause damage to the engine.

EVU01630

Multi-function meter unit (Special Edition models)

1. Speedometer 2. Fuel meter

3. “H” button 4. “M” button

5. Clock/Hour meter

6. Odometer/Tripmeter A/Tripmeter B

7. “TRIP/ODO” button 8. Clock/Hour button “ / ”

The multi-function meter unit is equipped with
the following:

● a speedometer (which shows the riding

speed)

● an odometer (which shows the total dis-

tance traveled)

4-7

two tripmeters (which show the distance

●

traveled since they were last set to zero)

● a clock

● an hour meter (which shows the total time

the key has been turned to “ON”)

● a fuel meter

Odometer and tripmeter modes

Pushing the “TRIP/ODO” button switches the
display between the odometer mode “ODO”
and the tripmeter modes “A” and “B” in the fol-
lowing order:
ODO → TRIP A → TRIP B → ODO
To reset a tripmeter, select it by pushing the
“TRIP/ODO” button, and then hold the “TRIP/
ODO” button for at least three seconds. The
tripmeters can be used to estimate the dis­tance that can be traveled with a full tank of fu­el. This information will enable you to plan
future fuel stops.
Holding in the “TRIP/ODO” button and then
turning the key to “ON” switches the display
between “mph” and “km/h”.

4-8

Clock mode

Pushing the “ / ” button switches the dis­play between the clock mode “CLOCK” and
the hour meter mode “HOUR” in the following
order:
CLOCK → HOUR → CLOCK

To set the clock

1. Set the display to the clock.

2. Push the “ / ” button until the clock
starts flashing.

3. Set the hours by pushing the “H” button.

4. Set the minutes by pushing the “M” but­ton.

5. Push the “ / ” button, and then re­lease it to start the clock.

Fuel meter

The fuel meter indicates the amount of fuel in
the fuel tank. The display segments of the fuel
meter disappear from “F” (full) towards “E”
(empty) as the fuel level decreases. When the
“E” segment disappears and the fuel level
warning indicator flashes, refuel as soon as
possible.

1. Fuel level warning indicator

2. Fuel meter 3. “E” segment

4-9

EVU00230

Switches

EVU00240

L

Light switch “OFF/ / ”

1. Light switch “OFF/ / ”

Set the switch to “” to turn on the low beam

L

L

H

H

and the taillights.
Set the switch to “” to turn on the high

H

beam and the taillights.
Set the switch to “OFF” to turn off all the lights.

TICE

Do not use the headlights with the engine
turned off for an extended period of time.
The battery may discharge to the point
that the starter motor will not operate
properly. If this should happen, remove
the battery and recharge it.

4-10

EVU01183

On-Command four-wheel-drive and differ­ential gear lock switches

1. On-Command four-wheel-drive switch “2WD”/“4WD”

2. On-Command differential gear lock switch “4WD”/“LOCK”

This vehicle is equipped with an On-Com­mand four-wheel-drive switch “2WD”/“4WD”
and a differential gear lock switch “4WD”/
“LOCK”. Select the appropriate drive accord­ing to terrain and conditions.

● Two-wheel drive (“2WD”): Power is sup-

plied to the rear wheels only.

● Four-wheel drive (“4WD”): Power is sup-

plied to the rear and front wheels.

● Four-wheel drive with the differential gear

locked (“4WD-LOCK”): Power is supplied
to the rear and front wheels with the differ­ential gear locked. Unlike the 4WD mode,
all wheels turn at the same speed regard­less of traction.

4-11

EVU00260

Accelerator pedal

Press the accelerator pedal down to increase
engine speed. Spring pressure returns the
pedal to the rest position when released. Al­ways check that the accelerator pedal returns
normally before starting the engine.

1. Accelerator pedal

EVU00270

Brake pedal

Press the brake pedal to slow or stop the ve­hicle.

1. Brake pedal

4-12

EVU00280

Parking brake lever

The parking brake lever is located at the right
side of the driver’s seat. It will help keep the
vehicle from moving while parked.
To set the parking brake, pull the lever up
completely.
To release the parking brake, pull up on the
lever, press the release button, and then push
the lever all the way down.
Spring pressure helps return the lever to the
released position.

1. Parking brake lever 2. Release button

4-13

EVU00290

Drive select lever

The drive select lever is used to shift the vehi­cle into the low, high, neutral, and reverse po­sitions. (Refer to pages 6-6–6-7 for the drive
select lever operation.)

1. Drive select lever

EVU00300

Fuel tank cap

Remove the fuel tank cap by turning it coun­terclockwise.

1. Fuel tank cap

4-14

Fuel level check window

The amount of fuel in the fuel tank can be
checked through the fuel level check window.
If the fuel level is low, refuel as soon as possi­ble.

1. Fuel level check window

EVU00320

Starter (choke) “”

Starting a cold engine requires a richer air-fuel
mixture. A separate starter circuit supplies this
mixture.
Move in direction a to turn on the starter
(choke).
Move in direction b to turn off the starter
(choke).
Refer to “Starting a cold engine” for proper op­eration. (See pages 6-2–6-5.)

A. Starter (choke) “” 1. Fully open

2. Half open 3. Closed

4-15

Doors

To open a door, simply pull the latch outward.
To close a door, push or pull the door inward
until it is securely latched. Be sure the door is
SECURELY LATCHED AFTER CLOSING IT.

1

EVU00330

Seats

To remove a seat, pull its seat lock lever up­ward, lift the front of the seat, and then slide
the seat forward and up.

2

1. Latch 2. Door

1. Driver seat 2. Passenger seat

3. Seat lock lever (× 2)

4-16

To install a seat, insert the projections on the
rear of the seat into the seat holders and push
down on the seat at the front. Make sure the
seats are securely latched. WARNING! A

loose seat could cause the operator to
lose control, or cause the operator or pas­senger to fall.

EVU00340

Seat belts

This vehicle is equipped with three-point seat
belts for both the operator and the passenger.
Always wear the seat belts properly while
riding in the vehicle. See pages 7-6–7-8 for
more information.

4-17

EVU01191

Glove compartment

To protect from damage, do not put metal
products, like tools or sharply edged prod­ucts, directly in the glove compartment. If
they must be stored, wrap them in appro­priate cushioning material.

a. Unlock. b. Open.

EVU00351

Cargo bed

1. Cargo bed 2. Tailgate

3. Cargo hook (× 4)

Maximum load limit: 181 kg (400 lb)

For additional loading information, see pages
6-11–6-13.

4-18

Opening and closing the tailgate

Lifting and lowering the cargo bed

1. Tailgate 2. Latch (× 2)

To open
Unhook the latches, and then lower the tail­gate.

To close
Place the tailgate in the original position, and
then hook the latches.

1. Cargo bed release lever

To lift
Push down the cargo bed release lever on the
left or right side of the vehicle, and then slowly
lift up the cargo bed until it stops.

4-19

To lower
With hands and fingers clear of pinch points,
lower the cargo bed slowly to its original posi­tion and be sure it is locked into place.

WARNING! Keep hands, body, and other
people away from pinch points when low­ering bed. Do not hold onto the cage/frame
while closing the bed.

EVU00360

Front and rear shock absorber adjustment

The spring preload can be adjusted to suit the
operating conditions. You can reduce preload
for a softer ride, or increase preload if frequent
bottoming occurs or when carrying loads.

WARNING

Always adjust the shock absorbers on the
left and right sides to the same setting. Un­even adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to
an accident.

Frequent or severe bottoming can cause
increased wear or damage to the vehicle.

4-20

Adjust the spring preload as follows:
To increase the spring preload, turn the ad­justing ring in direction a.
To decrease the spring preload, turn the ad­justing ring in direction b.

1. Spring preload adjusting ring

2. Position indicator

A special wrench can be obtained at a
Yamaha dealer to make this adjustment.

Standard position: B

A- Minimum (soft)
E- Maximum (hard)

1. Special wrench

4-21

EVU00370

Trailer hitch bracket and receiver

This vehicle is equipped with a trailer hitch
bracket and a 5 cm (2 in) receiver for a stan­dard trailer hitch. Trailer towing equipment
can be obtained at a Yamaha dealer. (See
pages 6-11–6-13 for precaution information.)

EVU00380

Auxiliary DC jack

The auxiliary DC jack is located at the right
side of the front panel. The auxiliary DC jack
can be used for suitable work lights, radios,
etc. The auxiliary DC jack should only be used
when the engine is running.

1

1. Trailer hitch bracket 2. Receiver

2

1. Auxiliary DC jack cap

1. Set the light switch to “OFF”.

2. Start the engine. (See pages 6-2–6-5.)

3. Open the auxiliary DC jack cap, and then
insert the accessory power plug into the
jack.

4-22

1. Auxiliary DC jack

Maximum rated capacity for the auxiliary
DC jack:

DC 12 V, 120 W (10 A)

4. When the auxiliary DC jack is not being
used, cover it with the cap.

NOTICE

● Do not use accessories requiring more

than the maximum capacity stated
above. This may overload the circuit
and cause the fuse to blow.

● If accessories are used without the en-

gine running, the battery will lose its
charge and engine starting may become
difficult.

● Do not use an automotive cigarette

lighter or other accessories with a plug
that gets hot, because the jack can be
damaged.

4-23

EVU01200

1-

FOR YOUR SAFETY – PRE-OPERATION CHECKS

Inspect your vehicle each time you use it to make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Own­er’s Manual.

1

2

3

WARNING

Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an accident
or equipment damage. Do not operate the vehicle if you find any problem. If a problem
cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in this manual, have the vehicle inspect­ed by a Yamaha dealer.

Before using this vehicle, check the following points:

ITEM ROUTINE PAGE

Brakes

Parking brake • Check for proper operation, condition, and free play. 8-37–8-38

Fuel

Engine oil

Coolant reservoir

• Check operation, free play, fluid level, and fluid leakage.

• Fill with DOT 4 brake fluid if necessary.

• Check fuel level.

• Fill with fuel if necessary.

• Check oil level.

• Fill with oil to proper level if necessary.

• Check coolant level.

• Fill with coolant if necessary.

5-1

5-3, 8-34–8-37, 8-39

5-4–5-5

5-6, 8-10–8-14

5-7, 8-19–8-20

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

ITEM ROUTINE PAGE

Final gear oil/
Differential gear oil

• Check for leakage. 5-7, 8-15–8-18

Accelerator pedal • Check for proper accelerator pedal operation. 5-8

Seat belts • Check for proper operation and belt wear. 5-8

Steering • Check for proper operation. 5-8

Fittings and fasteners • Check all fittings and fasteners. 5-8

Lights and switches • Check for proper operation. 5-8, 8-51–8-55

Wheels and tires • Check tire pressure and for wear and damage. 5-9–5-11, 8-42–8-44

Axle boots • Check for damage. 8-20–8-21

5-2

EVU00390

Front and rear brakes

Brake pedal

Check for correct brake pedal free play. If the
brake pedal free play is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it. (See page 8-37.)
Check the operation of the brake pedal. It
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If
not, have the vehicle inspected by a Yamaha
dealer.

Brake fluid level

Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if neces­sary. (See pages 8-35–8-36.)

Recommended brake fluid: DOT 4

Brake fluid leakage

Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of
the pipe joints or the brake fluid reservoir. Ap­ply the brakes firmly for one minute. If there is
any leakage, have the vehicle inspected by a
Yamaha dealer.

Brake operation

Check the operation of the brakes at the start
of every ride. Test the brakes at slow speed
after starting out to make sure they are work­ing properly. If the brakes do not provide prop­er braking performance, inspect the brake
system. (See pages 8-34–8-35, 8-37–8-39.)

5-3

EVU00400

Fuel

Make sure there is sufficient gasoline in the
tank.

WARNING

Gasoline and gasoline vapors are ex­tremely flammable. To avoid fires and ex­plosions and to reduce the risk of injury
when refueling, follow these instructions.

1. Before refueling, turn off the engine and
be sure that driver and passenger are
outside the vehicle.
Never refuel while smoking, or while in
the vicinity of sparks, open flames, or oth­er sources of ignition such as the pilot
lights of water heaters and clothes dry­ers.

2. Do not overfill the fuel tank. Because fuel
expands when it heats up, heat from the
engine or the sun can cause fuel to spill
out of the fuel tank.

3. Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately.

4. Be sure the fuel tank cap is closed se­curely.

WARNING

Gasoline is poisonous and can cause inju­ry or death. Handle gasoline with care.
Never siphon gasoline by mouth. If you
should swallow some gasoline or inhale a
lot of gasoline vapor, or get some gasoline
in your eyes, see your doctor immediately.
If gasoline spills on your skin, wash with
soap and water. If gasoline spills on your
clothing, change your clothes.

5-4

Your Yamaha engine has been designed to
use regular unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number ([R+M]/2) of 86 or higher, or
research octane number of 91 or higher. If
knocking or pinging occurs, use a different
brand of gasoline or premium unleaded fuel.
Unleaded fuel will give you longer spark plug
life and reduced maintenance cost.

Gasohol

There are two types of gasohol: gasohol con­taining ethanol and that containing methanol.
Gasohol containing ethanol can be used if
ethanol content does not exceed 10%. Gaso­hol containing methanol is not recommended
by Yamaha because it may cause fuel system
damage or vehicle performance problems.

Recommended fuel:

Unleaded gasoline only

Fuel tank capacity:

30.0 L (6.60 Imp gal, 7.93 US gal)

Portable gas containers

If you carry a portable gas can in the bed of
the Rhino, be sure to secure it with the cap
tightened before driving the vehicle.
Always place a portable gas container on the
ground before filling it. Before removing the
container cap, touch the container with the
gas dispenser nozzle. Keep gas dispenser
nozzle in contact with container inlet when fill­ing. WARNING! Never refill a fuel container

in the bed of any vehicle. Fire may result
from a build-up of static electricity. The
discharge of this build-up while refueling
can cause a spark and ignite the gasoline.

5-5

EVU00410

Engine oil

Make sure the engine oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See pages 8-10–
8-14.)

1

● In order to prevent clutch slippage

(since the engine oil also lubricates the
clutch), do not mix any chemical addi­tives with oil. Do not use oils with a die­sel specification of “CD” or oils of a
higher quality than specified. In addi­tion, do not use oils labeled “ENERGY
CONSERVING II” or higher.

● Make sure that no foreign material en-

ters the crankcase.

2

1. “CD” specification 2. “ENERGY CONSERVING II”

Recommended engine oil type and
quantity:

See page 10-2.

5-6

EVU00420

Coolant

Check the coolant level in the coolant reser­voir when the engine is cold (the coolant level
will vary with engine temperature).

EVU00430

Final gear oil

Make sure the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See pages 8-15–
8-16 for details.)

The coolant level is satisfactory if it is between
the minimum and maximum level marks on
the coolant reservoir. If the coolant level is at
or below the minimum level mark, add addi­tional coolant to bring the level up to maxi­mum level mark. If coolant is not available,
add distilled water. Change the coolant every
two years. (See pages 8-19–8-20 for details.)

NOTICE

Hard water or salt water is harmful to the
engine. You may use soft water if you can­not get distilled water.

Coolant reservoir capacity
(up to the maximum level mark):

0.35 L (0.31 Imp qt, 0.37 US qt)

Recommended oil:

SAE 80 API GL-4 Hypoid gear oil

If desired, an SAE 80W90 hypoid gear oil may
be used for all conditions.

TIP

TIP

GL-4 is a quality and additive rating; GL-5 or
GL-6 rated hypoid gear oils may also be used.

EVU00440

Differential gear oil

Make sure the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See
pages 8-17–8-18 for details.)

Recommended oil:

SAE 80 API GL-5 Hypoid gear oil

5-7

EVU00450

Accelerator pedal

Check to see that the accelerator pedal oper­ates correctly. It must operate smoothly and
spring back to the idle position fully when re­leased. Have a Yamaha dealer repair as nec­essary for proper operation.

EVU00460

Seat belts

Make sure that the seat belts are not frayed,
torn, stretched, or damaged. Each seat belt
must move smoothly when pulled out and re­tract on its own when released. It must also
lock up when quickly pulled out. The latch
plate should click securely into the buckle and
release when the release button is pushed
firmly. Wash off any dirt or mud that could af­fect operation. Have a Yamaha dealer repair
as necessary for proper operation.

A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or death in a crash.
To help make sure your restraint systems are
working properly after a crash, have them in­spected and any necessary replacements
made as soon as possible.

EVU01230

Steering

Park on level ground. Turn the steering wheel
right and left. Check for excessive free play,
abnormal noises, or a rough feeling. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper
operation.

EVU00470

Fittings and fasteners

Always check the tightness of chassis fittings
and fasteners before a ride. Take the vehicle
to a Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service
Manual for correct tightening torque.

5-8

EVU00480

Lights

Check the headlights and tail/brake lights to
make sure they are in working condition. Re­pair as necessary for proper operation.

EVU00490

Switches

Check the operation of all switches. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper
operation.

Control cables

When riding in cold weather, always make
sure all control cables work smoothly before
you begin riding. WARNING! Control cables

can freeze in cold weather and you could
be unable to control the vehicle.

EVU00500

Tires

Check tire pressure regularly to make sure it
is at the recommended specifications. Also
check for wear and damage.

EVU00510

Tire pressure

Use the tire pressure gauge to check and ad­just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.

WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with
improper tire pressure may cause severe
injury or death from loss of control or roll­over. Tire pressure below the minimum
specified could also cause the tire to dis­lodge from the rim under severe riding
conditions.

5-9

Set tire pressures to the following specifica­tions:

ACE-02E

Front

Rear

Recommended

pressure

70 kPa

(0.70 kgf/cm

10 psi)

98 kPa

(0.98 kgf/cm

14 psi)

Minimum Maximum

63 kPa

2

,

(0.63 kgf/cm2,

9 psi)

91 kPa

2

,

(0.91 kgf/cm2,

13 psi)

77 kPa

(0.77 kgf/cm2,

11 psi)

105 kPa

(1.05 kgf/cm2,

15 psi)

The tire pressure gauge is included as stan­dard equipment. Make two measurements of
the tire pressure and use the second reading.
Dust or dirt in the gauge could cause the first
reading to be incorrect.

1. Tire pressure gauge

5-10

EVU00520

Tire wear limit

When the tire groove decreases to 3 mm
(0.12 in) due to wear, replace the tire.

a. Tire wear limit

5-11

EVU00530

1-

OPERATION

Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to be­come familiar with all controls. If there is a
control or function you do not understand, ask
your Yamaha dealer.

WARNING

Failure to familiarize yourself with the con­trols can lead to loss of control, which
could cause an accident or injury.

Engine break-in

There is never a more important period in the
life of your vehicle than the period between
zero and 20 hours.

For this reason, we ask that you read the fol­lowing material carefully. Because the engine
is brand new, you must not put an excessive
load on it for the first several hours of opera­tion. During the first 20 hours, the various
parts in the engine wear and polish them­selves to achieve the correct operating clear­ances.

During this period, prolonged full-throttle oper­ation or any condition that might result in ex­cessive engine heating must be avoided.
However, momentary (2–3 seconds maxi­mum) full-throttle operation under load does
not harm the engine.

6-1

Each full-throttle acceleration sequence
should be followed with a substantial rest pe­riod for the engine, by cruising at lower r/min
so the engine can rid itself of the temporary
build-up of heat. If any abnormality is noticed
during this period, consult a Yamaha dealer.

0–10 hours:

Avoid continuous operation above half-throt­tle. Allow a cooling-off period of five to ten
minutes after every hour of operation. Vary
the speed of the vehicle from time to time. Do
not operate it at one set throttle position.

10–20 hours:

Avoid prolonged operation above three-quar­ter throttle.

EVU00540

Starting a cold engine

1. Apply the brake pedal.

2. Shift the drive select lever into the neutral
position.

● When the drive select lever is in the

neutral position, the neutral indicator
light should come on. If the neutral in­dicator light does not come on, ask a
Yamaha dealer to inspect the electric
circuit.

● The engine can be started in any gear

if the brake is applied. However, it is
recommended to shift into neutral be­fore starting the engine.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

After break-in:

The vehicle may now be operated normally.

13

14

6-2

3. Use the starter (choke) in reference to
the figure:
Position 1: Cold engine start – ambient

temperature below 5 °C
(40 °F).

Position 2: Cold engine start – ambient

temperature at 0 °C (30
°F)–30 °C (90 °F) and
warming up position.

Position 3: Cold engine start – ambient

temperature above 25 °C
(80 °F) and warm engine
start position.

a. Starter (choke) 1. Fully open

2. Half open 3. Closed

4. With your foot off the accelerator pedal,
start the engine by turning the key to
“START”.

6-3

If the engine fails to start, release the key, and
then try starting it again. Wait a few seconds
before the next attempt. Each attempt should
be as short as possible, to preserve battery
energy. NOTICE: Do not crank the engine

more than 5 seconds on each attempt, or
starter damage could occur. Wait at least 5
seconds between each operation of the
electric starter to let it cool.

Do not turn the key to the “START” position
with the engine running, or damage to the
electric starter may result.

WARNING

The speed of a cold engine may increase
enough as it warms up to cause the vehi­cle to move on its own while the choke is
being used. Do not get out of the vehicle
while the engine is running and the drive
select lever is in any gear.
Unwanted vehicle movement can cause
serious injury or death, and it may be dan­gerous to try to stop the vehicle. The park­ing brake may not keep the vehicle from
accelerating.

5. If the engine is started with the starter

(choke) in position 1, the starter (choke)
should be returned to position 2 to warm
up the engine. If the engine is started with
the starter (choke) in position 2, keep
the starter (choke) in this position to
warm up the engine.

6-4

6. With the vehicle still in neutral, continue
warming up the engine until it idles
smoothly, and return the starter (choke)
to position 3 before riding. Failure to do
so may result in poor performance and
premature wearing of the rear brake and
V-belt.

EVU00550

Starting a warm engine

To start a warm engine, refer to the “Starting a
cold engine” section. The starter (choke)
should not be used. Press the accelerator
pedal slightly.

EVU00561

Warming up

To get maximum engine life, always warm up
the engine before starting off. To see whether
or not the engine is warm, check for smooth
throttle response with the vehicle in neutral
and the starter (choke) turned off.

Never accelerate hard with a cold engine!

6-5

Drive select lever operation and reverse driving

NOTICE

Do not shift without coming to a complete
stop and waiting for the engine to return to
normal idle speed. Damage to the engine
or drive train may occur.

Shifting: neutral to high and high to low

1. Stop the vehicle. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.

2. Apply the brake pedal, then shift by mov­ing the drive select lever along the shift
guide. Make sure that the drive select le­ver is completely shifted into position.

1. Drive select lever

3. Release the brake pedal and press the
accelerator pedal gradually.

6-6

Shifting: neutral to reverse

WARNING

Before you shift into reverse, make sure
there are no obstacles or people behind
you. When it is safe to proceed, go slowly.
Hitting an obstacle or person could result
in serious injury or death.

1. Stop the vehicle. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and check behind you.

2. Apply the brake pedal.

3. Shift from neutral to reverse or vice versa
by moving the drive select lever along the
shift guide.

● When in reverse, the reverse indicator

light should be on. Due to the synchro­nizing mechanism in the engine, the
light may not come on until the vehicle
starts moving.

● If the light does not come on, ask a

Yamaha dealer to inspect the reverse
indicator light electrical circuit.

1. Drive select lever

4. Check behind the vehicle for people or
obstacles, and then release the brake
pedal.

5. Press the accelerator pedal gradually
and continue to watch to the rear while
backing.

6-7

EVU01183

On-Command four-wheel-drive switch and differential gear lock switch

You may notice that the vehicle handles dif­ferently in 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD-LOCK
(“DIFF. LOCK”). For example, you should ex­pect that the vehicle will require more effort to
turn in 4WD-LOCK (“DIFF. LOCK”). Always
stop the vehicle before changing between
2WD and 4WD or 4WD and 4WD-LOCK
(“DIFF-LOCK”).

1. Differential gear lock lever

2. On-Command four-wheel-drive switch “2WD”/“4WD”

“2WD”/“4WD”

To change from 2WD to 4WD, stop the vehi­cle, and then set the switch to “4WD”. When
the vehicle is in 4WD, the four-wheel-drive in­dicator light “” or, for Special Edition models,
the four-wheel-drive indicator “” will come
on in the multi-function display. To change
from 4WD to 2WD, stop the vehicle, be sure
the differential gear lock lever is set to
position a, and then set the switch to “2WD”.

6-8

On-Command differential gear lock switch
“4WD”/“LOCK”

1. On-Command differential gear lock switch “4WD”/“LOCK”

2. Differential gear lock lever

To lock the differential gear in 4WD, stop the
vehicle, make sure the On-Command four­wheel-drive switch is set to “4WD”, move the
differential gear lock lever to position b, and
then set the switch to “LOCK”. When the dif­ferential gear is locked, the differential gear

DIFF.

lock indicator light “” or, for special edition

LOCK

modes, the differential gear lock indicator light
(“DIFF. LOCK”) will come on along with the

DIFF.

differential gear lock indicator “” in the

LOCK

multi-function display. To release the differen­tial gear lock, stop the vehicle and set the
switch to “4WD”.

● If the differential gear lock is not engaging

properly, turn the steering wheel back and
forth to help it engage.

● Driving before the differential gear lock is

properly engaged will cause the engine
speed to be limited until engagement is
complete.

6-9

For Special Edition models:

● When the switch is set to “LOCK”, the dif-

ferential gear lock indicator and indicator
light will flash until the differential gear is
locked.

● When the indicator and indicator light are

flashing, turning the steering wheel back
and forth will help the differential gear lock
to engage.

● Driving before the differential gear lock is

properly engaged (e.g., when the indicator
and indicator light are flashing) will cause
the engine speed to be limited until en­gagement is complete.

EVU01210

Parking

When parking, stop the engine and shift the
drive select lever into the neutral position. Ap­ply the parking brake to help prevent the vehi­cle from rolling. See page 7-17 for more
information on parking and parking on a
slope.

6-10

EVU00630

Loading

Take extra precautions when driving with a
load or trailer. Follow these instructions and
always use common sense and good judg­ment when carrying cargo or towing a trailer.

Prepare your load or trailer

WARNING

Improper loading or towing can increase
the risk of loss of control, an overturn, or
other accident:

● Do not exceed the Maximum Loading

Limits for the vehicle (see box or vehi­cle labeling).

● Keep weight in the cargo bed centered

side to side, and as low and as far for­ward as possible. Top-heavy loads in­crease the risk of overturn. Be sure
cargo is secured – a loose load could
change handling unexpectedly or
strike occupants.

● Do not exceed the maximum tongue

weight.

● Make sure the load does not interfere

with your control or ability to see
where you are going.

● Tie down cargo in the trailer securely.

Make sure cargo in the trailer cannot
move around. A shifting load can
cause an accident.

6-11

Use the hooks equipped on the cargo bed to
tie down loads.

Choose a trailer hitch drawbar designed for
use with a 5 cm (2 in) receiver. (See page
4-22 for more information.)

You can measure tongue weight with a bath­room scale. Put the tongue of the loaded trail­er on the scale with the tongue at hitch height.
Adjust the load in the trailer, if necessary, to
reduce the weight on hitch. If you are carrying
cargo and towing a trailer, include the tongue
weight in the maximum vehicle load limit.

MAXIMUM LOADING LIMIT

● Vehicle loading limit (total weight of

cargo, operator, passenger and
accessories and tongue weight):
398 kg (877 lb)

● Cargo bed: 181 kg (400 lb)

● Trailer hitch:

Pulling load (total weight of trailer and
cargo): 550 kg (1,212 lb)
Tongue weight (vertical weight on trailer
hitch point): 50 kg (110 lb)

6-12

Operating when loaded with cargo or tow­ing a trailer

Drive more slowly than you would without a
load. The more weight you carry, the slower
you should go. Although conditions vary, it is
good practice to keep the vehicle in low gear
whenever you are carrying heavier loads or
when towing a trailer.

WARNING

Carrying loads or towing a trailer can in­crease the risk of loss of control, an over­turn, or other accident. To reduce the risk
of an accident:

● Reduce speed, operate in low gear

only, and allow more room to stop. A
heavier vehicle takes longer to stop.

● Avoid hills and rough terrain. Choose

terrain carefully. Use extreme caution
when towing or carrying a load on in­clines.

● Turn gradually and go slowly.

Pulling something other than a trailer

Yamaha recommends that loads be transport­ed in the bed or in a trailer. If you need to
move an object a short distance use a winch
and follow the winch manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.

If you choose to use something other than a
winch use extreme caution, follow the manu­facturer’s instructions for that product, and
only attach to the hitch or hitch bracket of the
Rhino. WARNING! Improperly pulling can

cause serious injury or death. Never ex­ceed the Pulling Load limit of the Rhino.
Avoid pulling on inclines.

Pulling objects on the ground can be more
hazardous than pulling a trailer. It may be dif­ficult to predict how the load will affect vehicle
operation. That effect could also change de­pending upon terrain or what obstacles might
be in the object’s path.

6-13

1-

BASIC GUIDE FOR SAFE

USE

As a Rhino owner you are responsible for the
safe and proper operation of this vehicle.
Read this chapter and review the safety in­structions in Chapter 2 before operating the
vehicle. Use these chapters and the labels on
the vehicle to instruct new operators and pas­sengers. Do not allow anyone else to operate
the vehicle or ride as a passenger if you are
unsure that he/she is willing and able to follow
these instructions.

WARNING

Follow these instructions to reduce your
risk of an accident and to reduce the risk
of serious injury or death in the event of an
accident.

KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

This off-road vehicle will handle and maneu­ver differently from cars, ATVs, go-carts, golf­cars and grounds-keeping vehicles. The
Rhino has higher ground clearance and other
features to handle rugged terrain, and, as a
result, can overturn in situations where some
vehicles may not. This would include vehicles
made primarily for pavement, roads, im­proved paths, or grounds-keeping. If you do
not use care in maneuvering the Rhino, you
can cause it to roll over even on flat, open ar­eas.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

7-1

Doing things with a Rhino that some people
do for thrills in other vehicles (such as side­ways sliding, skidding, fishtailing, or donuts)
have led to side rollovers. These rollovers can
result in crushed limbs and other serious inju­ries or death to drivers or passengers.

As the owner/operator, it is your responsibility
to protect yourself and your passenger from
accidents, including rollovers. The Rhino has
many features, including a protective struc­ture and seat belts, to help protect occupants,
but the best way to avoid injuries is to avoid
accidents. There is a risk of injury or death in
any accident, even with these safety features.

Driver requirements

● This vehicle is intended for use only by an

operator 16 or older with a valid motor vehi­cle license.

DRIVER
UNDER

16

● The driver must be able to place both feet

flat on the floorboard while seated upright
with his/her back against the seat back.

● Do not drive after using drugs or alcohol.

Remove the ignition key when the vehicle is
not in use to prevent unauthorized use of the
machine.

7-2

Parents:
Many states have implemented new motor
vehicle licensing requirements for young driv­ers. These requirements are in response to
the disproportionately high rate of crashes in­volving youthful drivers. As with automobiles,
to promote safe driving behaviors, you should
supervise drivers and consider setting rules
and putting limits on how, when, and where
the Rhino can be used.

Passenger requirements

This vehicle is designed for the operator and
one passenger. Carrying passengers improp­erly can lead to serious injury or death. As the
operator, you are responsible for your pas­senger.

● Your passenger must be able to place both

feet on the floorboard while seated upright
with his/her back against the seat back.

● Allow only one passenger in the vehicle

and only in the passenger seat. Do not car­ry any other passengers. Do not carry pas­sengers in the cargo bed.

● Do not allow someone to ride as a passen-

ger who has been using drugs or alcohol.

7-3

Occupant protection system

1

2

2

1. Passenger handhold 2. Seat belt

3. Door

1. Door

3

1

1. Passenger handhold

1

7-4

WARNING

Do not make changes to the occupant pro­tection system. If you install aftermarket
products or have your vehicle modified,
you may put yourself and others at greater
risk of serious injury or death. You are re­sponsible for any such changes to the ve­hicle.

The Rhino comes with a variety of features to
help reduce the risk of driver and passenger
injury. These features work together, and
when properly used, these features will help
protect the occupants in the event of an acci­dent. If these features are not used properly,
they can cause injury.

Protective structure

The vehicle cage/frame provides a protective
structure that helps limit intrusions by branch­es or other objects and may reduce your risk
of injury in accidents. The protective structure
will not protect occupants in all rollovers or ac­cidents.

Body parts outside of vehicle can be struck by
passing objects or crushed during vehicle roll­over. Do not put your hands or feet outside of
the vehicle for any reason. Do not hold onto
the door, cage/frame or hip restraint bar.
Wear your seat belt and helmet.

If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, do not put your hands or feet outside the
vehicle for any reason. You will not be able to
stop the vehicle from tipping over using your
body. Any part of your body (arms, legs, or
head) outside of the vehicle can be crushed
by the vehicle cage/frame.

7-5

Seat belts

Seat belts should be worn by both driver and
passenger. Driver must be sure that the pas­senger is belted before driving.

● Be sure the seat belt is not twisted, is

close-fitting across the hips and chest,
and is latched securely.

● Do not wear the lap belt across the abdo-

men or stomach.

● Do not put the shoulder belt behind the

back.
Failure to use seat belts properly may lead to
an increased likelihood and severity of injury.

An unbelted occupant may strike the interior
of the vehicle, the protective structure, or oth­er objects in an accident or during operation.
You may also fall completely out or be partial­ly ejected from the vehicle, which may lead to
being crushed between the ground and the
vehicle. Wearing the seat belt helps you re­main in the vehicle – the doors and handholds
are not a substitute for using a seat belt.

A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or death in a crash.
To help make sure your restraint systems are
working properly after a crash, have them in­spected and any necessary replacements
made as soon as possible.

7-6

1. Seat belt (× 2) 2. Latch plate (× 2)

3. Buckle (× 2)

To wear the seat belt properly, do the follow­ing:

1. Hold the latch plate as you pull the belt
across your lap and chest. Make sure the
belt is not twisted and is not caught on
any portion of the vehicle, your clothing,
or any equipment you are carrying.

2. If the latch plate is not positioned in the
correct location along the seat belt,
squeeze the latch plate ends together
along its long edges in order to more eas­ily adjust its location up or down along the
length of the belt.

3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it
clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make
sure it is secure.

1. Buckle 2. Latch plate

7-7

4. Put the lap portion of the belt low on your
hips. Pull up on the shoulder part so the
belt is snug across your hips.

5. Position the shoulder belt over your
shoulder and across your chest. The
shoulder belt should fit against your
chest. If it is loose, pull the belt out all the
way and then let it retract.

6. To release the buckle, firmly press the re­lease button.

Doors

The doors are designed to reduce the likeli­hood that you will stick your leg out to stop the
vehicle from tipping over or for any other rea­son in a rollover. The doors may also reduce
intrusion of objects into the occupant area.
Make sure the doors are securely latched be­fore operation. Do not place your arm or hand
on the door during operation. Your hand or
arm may be struck by objects or crushed
against outside objects or the ground during a
rollover.

7-8

Passenger handholds

Handholds are provided to grip during opera­tion to maintain proper position and balance.
Holding onto the handholds helps to reduce
the likelihood that the passenger puts a hand
outside the vehicle if the vehicle begins to tip.
There are two handholds on the protective
structure and two handholds on the passen­ger’s left side, for the right and left hands.

The driver should make sure the passenger is
holding onto the handholds with both hands
before operating the vehicle.

7-9

Seat and hip restraints

The seat and hip restraints are designed to
help keep you in the vehicle. Do not hold onto
hip restraint bar when the vehicle is moving.
Your hand or arm may be struck by objects or
crushed against outside objects or the ground
during a rollover.

Floorboard

The floorboard allows you to brace your feet,
which helps you keep your body in the vehicle
in the event of an accident or rollover. Keep
your feet on the floorboard during operation.

7-10

Steering wheel

Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do
not hold the steering wheel with your thumbs
inside the rim. Keep your palms on the out­side of the steering wheel. Similar to other off­road vehicles, if the Rhino hits a deep rut or
large obstacle, the steering wheel could brief­ly jerk in one direction or back and forth as the
tires and vehicle respond to the obstacle. This
quick motion could injure your thumbs or wrist
if your thumbs or hand(s) are inside the steer­ing wheel. Grip the steering wheel so that
your thumbs will not be hit by the spokes. As
an example, see the illustration.

CORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE

INCORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE

7-11

LEARNING TO OPERATE YOUR VEHICLE

Personal protective equipment

1

2

3

Both driver and passenger should wear the
following to reduce risk of injury in an acci­dent:

● Approved motorcycle helmet that fits prop-

erly

● Eye protection (goggles, helmet face

shield, or protective eyewear)

● Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, long-sleeved

shirt or jacket, and long pants

4

5

6

1. Approved motorcycle helmet

2. Eye protection 3. Long-sleeved shirt or jacket

4. Gloves 5. Long pants

6. Over-the-ankle boots

An approved helmet and other personal pro­tective equipment can help in a variety of
ways, including:

● Reduce the severity of injuries if any part of

you is outside the vehicle cage/frame pro­tective structure during a rollover.

● Help protect you if outside objects intrude

inside the vehicle during operation.

● Help protect you in the event of vehicle im-

pact with an obstacle.

7-12

Wear eye protection when operating or riding
the vehicle to reduce the risk of a serious ac­cident or injury. Eye protection, such as a face
shield or goggles, may reduce the risk of for­eign material getting in your eyes and help
prevent loss of vision.

Practice for new Rhino users

You should become familiar with the perfor­mance characteristics of the vehicle in a large,
flat area that is free of obstacles and other ve­hicles. Practice controlling the accelerator
pedal, brakes, steering, and drive select lever.
Drive at slow speeds with gradual accelera­tion and turning. Practice smooth throttle ap­plication. Practice slowing down before
turning. Practice maintaining a steady throttle
through the turn. Avoid higher speeds until
you are thoroughly familiar with the operation
of your vehicle. Remember, driving aggres­sively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.

Become familiar with the way the vehicle feels
in low and high ranges, first in two-wheel drive
(2WD) and then in four-wheel drive (4WD)
and four-wheel drive with the differential
locked (DIFF. LOCK). Steering may take
more effort in 4WD with the differential locked
(DIFF. LOCK). Also practice driving in re­verse.

Take the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before attempting more difficult ma­neuvers.

7-13

Getting ready to ride

Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on pages
5-1–5-11. Follow the instructions starting on
page 6-2 to start the engine. Once it has
warmed up and you have turned the choke
off, you are ready to begin driving your vehi­cle.

Turning

Use care in turns – turning the steering wheel
too far or too fast can result in loss of control
or a rollover. Slow down before entering turns.
When making tight turns from a standstill or at
slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard accelera­tion. Driving aggressively or making abrupt
maneuvers even on flat, open areas can
cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways sliding,
skidding, or fishtailing, and never do donuts. If
you feel the Rhino begin to slide sideways or
fishtail during a turn, steer into the direction of
the slide, if possible, and gradually let off the
accelerator pedal to regain directional control
and avoid rollover. For example, if you feel the
back of the vehicle start to slide to your right,
steer to the right.

7-14

If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, keep your body completely inside the pro­tective structure of the vehicle:

● Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly

on the floorboards and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or handholds.

● Do not put your hands or feet outside of the

vehicle for any reason. Do not try to stop a
tipover using your arm or leg.

Accelerating

With the engine idling in neutral and your foot
on the brake, shift the drive select lever into
low or high. NOTICE: Do not shift from low

to high or vice versa without coming to a
complete stop and waiting for the engine
to return to normal idle speed – damage to
the engine or drive train may occur. Then
release the parking brake. Press the accel-

erator pedal slowly and smoothly. The centrif­ugal clutch will engage and the vehicle will
begin to accelerate.

Avoid higher speeds and sudden or hard ac­celeration until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your vehicle. Avoid sud­den or hard acceleration in any turn.

7-15

Braking

When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal smoothly. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re­ducing control of the vehicle and increasing
the possibility of an accident.

Braking ability is affected by type of terrain. In
most cases, gradual application of the brakes
is more effective than abrupt braking, particu­larly on loose surfaces, such as gravel. Al­ways allow for greater braking distance on
rough, loose, or slippery surfaces.

Engine braking

Engine compression braking is designed to
assist you when operating your Rhino off­road. With this feature, the engine helps slow
the vehicle down after you take your foot off
the accelerator. Engine braking is more no­ticeable in 4WD. Application of vehicle brakes
provides additional stopping power.

Leaving the vehicle

Do not get out of the vehicle while the engine
is running and the drive select lever is in any
gear. There is a risk of injury because:

● The speed of a cold engine may increase

enough as it warms up to cause the vehicle
to move on its own while the choke is being
used.

● Children or others may accidentally press

the accelerator pedal.

● Objects tossed into the vehicle may strike

the accelerator pedal.

● The parking brake may not keep the vehi-

cle from accelerating.
Unwanted vehicle movement can cause seri­ous injury or death, and it may be dangerous
to try to stop the vehicle.

7-16

Parking on a flat area

When parking on a flat area, stop the engine
and shift the drive select lever into the neutral
position. Apply the parking brake to help pre­vent the vehicle from rolling.

Parking on a slope

The parking brake acts only on the rear
wheels when in 2WD. For the parking brake to
take effect on all four wheels, shift to 4WD
Diff. Lock before stopping the engine.

If you park on a hill that is too steep the vehi­cle may roll out of control. Never park on hills
that are so steep you cannot walk up them
easily. If you must park on an incline follow
these instructions:

1. Bring the vehicle to a stop by applying the
brakes.

2. Put the vehicle in 4WD Diff. Lock.

3. Turn the engine off.

4. With the brake pedal applied, set the
parking brake.

5. Block the front and rear wheels with
rocks or other objects.

Loading

The total weight of operator, passenger, ac­cessories, cargo, trailer tongue weight, and
the vehicle itself must not exceed 907 kg
(2,000 lb). Vehicle loading can affect han­dling. See “Loading” on pages 6-11–6-13.

7-17

Operation on different surfaces and terrains

Go slowly and proceed with caution when op­erating on an unfamiliar surface or terrain.
This vehicle may handle differently in certain
types of terrains or on certain surfaces. You
may come upon hidden rocks, bumps, or
holes without enough time to react. To avoid
loss of control or rollover, always be alert to
changing surfaces or terrain when operating
the vehicle.

The Rhino has higher ground clearance and
other features to handle rugged terrain, and
as a result, can overturn in situations where
some vehicles may not. Abrupt maneuvers or
aggressive driving can cause loss of control,
including rollovers – even on flat, open areas.
These rollovers can result in crushed limbs
and other serious injuries or death to drivers
or passengers.

7-18

Hills

Choose carefully which hills you attempt to
climb or descend. Avoid hills with slippery sur­faces or those where you will not be able to
see far enough ahead of you. Use common
sense and remember that some hills are too
steep for you to climb or descend. Use proper
driving techniques to avoid rearward, forward,
or sideways rollovers on hills and slopes.

Drive straight up and down inclines, not
across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable,
drive slowly. Turn downhill immediately if you
feel the vehicle may tip.

If you think or feel the Rhino may tip or
roll:

● Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly

on the floorboards and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or handholds.

● Do not put your hands or feet outside of the

vehicle for any reason.

Uphill

Do not attempt to climb hills until you have
mastered basic maneuvers on flat ground.
Drive straight up hills, and avoid crossing the
side of a hill, which increases your risk of roll­over. Practice first on gentle slopes before at­tempting steeper hills. Always check the
terrain carefully before attempting any hill.

To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum,
and steady throttle. For more traction and
control for climbing steeper and/or rougher
slopes, shift into low gear and select 4WD or
4WD Diff. Lock. Travel fast enough to main­tain momentum, but not so fast that you can­not react to changes in the terrain as you
climb.

7-19

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.

If you start to lose traction or momentum
when climbing, and decide you will be unable
to continue, use the brakes to stop. Do not at­tempt to turn the vehicle around. With your
foot on the brake pedal, look behind you and
plan your descent. Shift the drive select lever
into reverse so you can use engine braking to
slow your descent. Release the brake and be­gin to coast down the hill. Use engine braking
as much as possible, gently applying the
brakes when necessary.

Downhill

Check the terrain carefully before going
downhill. When possible, choose a path that
lets you drive your vehicle straight downhill.
Choose your path carefully and drive slowly
enough to be able to react to obstacles that
you encounter.

For more traction and control, before going
down steeper and/or rougher slopes, shift into
low gear and select 4WD or 4WD Diff. Lock.
Engine braking will help you go downhill slow­ly. Go as slowly as possible. If you begin to go
too fast, apply the brakes gently. Avoid hard
application of the brakes, which could cause
the vehicle to slide.

7-20

If you are sliding or skidding, try to steer in the
direction the vehicle is sliding, to regain con­trol. For example, if you feel the back of the
vehicle start to slide to your right, steer to the
right.

If you must turn on the hill to avoid an obsta­cle, do so slowly and carefully. If the vehicle
starts to tip, immediately steer in the downhill
direction if there are no obstacles in your path.
As you regain proper balance, gradually steer
again in the direction you want to go.

Rough terrain

Operation over rough terrain should be done
with caution.

● Look for and avoid obstacles that could

cause damage to the vehicle or could lead
to a rollover or accident.

● Do not drive in a way that will get the Rhino

airborne, as injury, loss of control, and
damage to the vehicle could occur.

Pavement

This vehicle is designed for off-road use only.
Avoid paved surfaces. Turn gradually and go
slowly if you must drive on pavement.

7-21

Water

If you must cross shallow, slow-moving water
up to the depth of the vehicle’s floorboards,
choose your path carefully to avoid sharp
drop-offs, large rocks, or slippery surfaces
that could cause the vehicle to overturn. Nev­er operate through water deeper than 33 cm
(13 in) or fast-flowing water. Choose a path
where both your entrance into and exit point
from the water is a gradual incline. Determine
the water depth and currents before crossing.

Operating this vehicle through deep or fast­flowing water can lead to loss of control or
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing
through water.

Wet brakes may have reduced effectiveness.
After leaving the water, test your brakes. If
necessary, apply the brakes several times to
let friction dry out the linings.

NOTICE

After driving your vehicle in water, be sure
to drain the trapped water by removing the
check hose at the bottom of the air filter
case, the V-belt cooling duct check hoses,
the drive select lever box check hose and
the V-belt case drain plug. Wash the vehi­cle in fresh water if it has been operated in
salt water or muddy conditions.

7-22

Loose terrain/slippery terrain

When driving on slippery terrain, including
wet, muddy, or icy conditions, as well as loose
gravel, be aware that you could begin skid­ding or sliding. To avoid loss of control, slow
down and put the Rhino in 4WD before driving
on a slippery surface and plan your path to
avoid making abrupt maneuvers.

If you feel the Rhino begin to slide sideways or
fishtail during a turn, steer into the direction of
the slide if possible, to regain directional con­trol. For example, if you feel the back of the
vehicle start to slide to your right, steer to the
right.

Brush or wooded areas

When operating in areas with brush or trees,
watch carefully on both sides and above the
vehicle for obstacles such as branches that
the vehicle might hit, causing an accident.
Watch for brush that might enter the vehicle
as you pass and strike you or the passenger.
Never hold onto the cage/frame. The passen­ger should always hold onto the handholds
with both hands.

The muffler and other engine parts become
extremely hot during operation and remain
hot after the engine has stopped. To reduce
the risk of fire during operation or after leaving
the vehicle, do not let brush, grass and other
materials collect under the vehicle, near the
muffler or exhaust pipe, or next to other hot
parts. Check under the vehicle after operating
in areas where combustible materials may
have collected. Do not idle or park the vehicle
in long dry grass or other dry ground cover.

7-23

Encountering obstacles

If you cannot go around an obstacle, such as
a fallen tree or a ditch, stop the vehicle where
it is safe to do so. Set the parking brake and
get out to inspect the area thoroughly. Look
from both your approach side and exit side. If
you believe you can continue safely, choose
the path that will allow you to get over the ob­stacle and at as close to a right angle as pos­sible to minimize vehicle tipping. Go only fast
enough to maintain your momentum but still
give yourself plenty of time to react to chang­es in conditions.

If there is any question about your ability to
maneuver safely over the obstacle, you
should turn around if the ground is flat and you
have the room or back up until you find a less
difficult path.

7-24

EVU00650

1-

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND

ADJUSTMENT

Periodic inspection, adjustment, and lubrica­tion will keep your vehicle in the safest and
most efficient condition possible.
Safety is an obligation of the vehicle owner/
operator. The most important points of vehicle
inspection, adjustment, and lubrication are ex­plained on the following pages.

WARNING

Failure to properly maintain the vehicle or
performing maintenance activities incor­rectly may increase your risk of injury or
death during service or while using the ve­hicle. If you are not familiar with vehicle
service, have a Yamaha dealer perform
service.

WARNING

Turn off the engine when performing main­tenance unless otherwise specified.

● A running engine has moving parts

that can catch on body parts or cloth­ing and electrical parts that can cause
shocks or fires.

● Running the engine while servicing

can lead to eye injury, burns, fire, or
carbon monoxide poisoning – possi­bly leading to death. See page 2-8 for
more information about carbon mon­oxide.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

8-1

EVU00660

Owner’s manual and tool kit

You are recommended to put this owner’s
manual in the vinyl bag and always carry it un­derneath the driver seat as shown. Put the
owner’s tool kit and tire pressure gauge in the
space beside the battery.

1. Owner’s manual

1. Owner’s tool kit 2. Tire pressure gauge

The service information included in this man­ual is intended to provide you, the owner, with
the necessary information for completing your
own preventive maintenance and minor re­pairs.
The tools provided in the owner’s tool kit are
sufficient for this purpose, except that a torque
wrench is also necessary to properly tighten
nuts and bolts.

8-2