YAMAHA YFM250XN User Manual

READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY!

It contains important safety information.

OWNER’S MANUAL

YFM250XN

WARNING

This ATV should not be ridden by anyone under 16 years of age.

4XE-F8199-13LIT-11626-14-17

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INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha YFM250X. It represents the result of
many years of Yamaha experience in the production of fine sporting, touring, and pace-set­ting racing machines. 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 machine. This manual includes important safety information. It provides infor-
mation about special techniques and skills necessary to ride your machine. It also includes
basic maintenance and inspection procedures. If you have any questions regarding the op­eration or maintenance of your machine, please consult a Yamaha dealer.

AN IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE:

● READ THIS MANUAL TOGETHER WITH TIPS FOR THE ATV RIDER CAREFULLY AND

COMPLETELY BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MACHINE. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND
ALL INSTRUCTIONS.

● PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WARNING AND CAUTION LABELS ON THE MACHINE.

● NEVER OPERATE AN ATV WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING OR INSTRUCTION. FREE

TRAINING IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO BUYS A NEW ATV. CALL 1-800-447-4700
FOR MORE INFORMATION.

● THIS ATV, AND ANY OTHER ATV OVER 90cc, SHOULD NOT BE RIDDEN BY ANYONE

UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE.

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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:

E

The Safety Alert Symbol means ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT!
YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!

WARNING

CAUTION:

NOTE: A NOTE provides key information to make procedures easier or

Failure to follow WARNING instructions could result in severe injury
or death to the machine operator, a bystander or a person inspecting
or repairing the machine.

A CAUTION indicates special precautions that must be taken to avoid
damage to the machine.

clearer.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

This machine is designed and manufactured for OFF-ROAD use only. It is illegal and unsafe
to operate this machine on any public street, road or highway.
This machine complies with all applicable OFF-ROAD noise level and spark arrester laws
and regulations in effect at the time of manufacture.
Please check your local riding laws and regulations before operating this machine.

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YFM250XN(C)

OWNER’S MANUAL

AFFIX DEALER

LABEL HERE

© 2000 by Yamaha Motor Corporation,

U.S.A.

1st Edition, May 2000

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-11626-14-17

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WARNING

Indicates a potential hazard that could
result in serious injury or death.

CONTENTS

LOCATION OF THE WARNING

1

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

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

2

DESCRIPTION AND MACHINE

3

IDENTIFICATION.............................. 3-1

Identification numbers record ...... 3-2

Key identification number ............3-2

Vehicle identification number ......3-3

Model label.....................................3-3

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

4

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

Indicator lights................................4-2

Handlebar switches .......................4-2

Throttle lever ..................................4-4

Speed limiter ..................................4-5

Front brake lever ............................4-6

Rear brake pedal and lever ...........4-6

Parking brake..................................4-8

Shift pedal.......................................4-9

Drive select lever............................4-9

Recoil starter.................................4-10

Fuel tank cap.................................4-11

Fuel cock .......................................4-12

Starter (choke) ..............................4-13

Seat................................................4-14

Storage box ..................................4-15

Front carrier ..................................4-16

Rear carrier ...................................4-16

Rear shock absorber

adjustment...................................4-16

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

5

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

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

Engine oil........................................ 5-7

Final gear oil...................................5-8

Throttle lever .................................. 5-8

Fittings and Fasteners ...................5-8

Lights............................................... 5-8

Switches .........................................5-8

Battery............................................. 5-8

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

How to measure tire pressure.... 5-11

Tire wear limit ..............................5-12

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

6

Starting a cold engine ...................6-1

Starting a warm engine ................6-3

Warming up ...................................6-3

Drive select lever operation and

reverse driving.............................. 6-4

Shifting ...........................................6-5

To start out and accelerate: ..........6-6

To decelerate:................................. 6-7

Engine break-in ..............................6-7

Parking ............................................6-8

Parking on a slope .........................6-9

Accessories and loading .............6-10

RIDING YOUR ATV ..........................7-1

7

Getting to know your ATV ............7-3

Ride with care and good

judgement .....................................7-4

Be careful where you ride ...........7-16

Turning your ATV ........................7-23

Climbing uphill .............................7-25

Riding downhill ............................7-30

Crossing a slope...........................7-32

Crossing through shallow

water ............................................7-34

Riding over rough terrain............7-36

Sliding and skidding ....................7-37

What to do if .................................7-39

What to do ....................................7-39

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND

8

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

Owner’s manual and tool kit ........8-1

Periodic maintenance/

lubrication .....................................8-3

Engine oil........................................ 8-5

Final gear oil...................................8-9

Spark plug inspection..................8-11

Air filter cleaning..........................8-12

Carburetor adjustment................ 8-15

Idle speed adjustment ................. 8-15

Valve clearance adjustment........8-16

Throttle lever adjustment............8-16

Front brake pad inspection .........8-17

Rear brake shoe inspection ........8-17

Brake fluid level inspection......... 8-18

Brake fluid replacement ..............8-19

Front brake adjustment............... 8-19

Rear brake adjustment ................8-21

Clutch adjustment........................ 8-23

Cable inspection and

lubrication ...................................8-24

Brake lever and brake pedal

lubrication....................................8-25

Steering shaft lubrication............8-26

Wheel removal .............................8-26

Wheel installation ........................8-27

Battery ...........................................8-28

Replenishing the battery fluid.....8-30

Fuse replacement.........................8-31

Replacing the headlight bulb......8-32

Headlight beam adjustment .......8-33

Spark arrester cleaning ...............8-34

Troubleshooting...........................8-35

Troubleshooting chart .................8-36

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

9

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

Storage............................................9-3

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

10

NOISE REGULATION.....................11-1

11

MAINTENANCE RECORD .............12-1

12

ATV LIMITED WARRANTY ........... 13-1

13

YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE

14

(Y.E.S.) ............................................14-1

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LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND

SPECIFICATION LABELS

1-1

Read and understand all of the labels on
your machine. They contain important in­formation for safe and proper operation of
your ATV.

1

1

2

Never remove any labels from your ATV. If
a label becomes difficult to read or comes
off, a replacement label is available from
your Yamaha dealer.

1-2

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

3

4

5

1-3

6 7

8

1-4

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SAFETY INFORMATION

AN ATV IS NOT A TOY AND CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. An ATV handles differ-

ently from other vehicles including motorcycles and cars. A collision or rollover can occur
quickly, even during routine maneuvers such as turning and riding on hills or over obsta-

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cles, if you fail to take proper precautions.
SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH can result if you do not follow these instructions:

● Read this manual and all labels carefully and follow the operating procedures described.

● Never operate an ATV without proper training or instruction. Take a Training Course. Be-

ginners should receive training from a certified instructor. Contact an authorized ATV
dealer or call 1-800-447-4700 to find out about the training courses nearest you.

● Always follow the age recommendation:

- A child under 16 years old should never operate an ATV with engine size greater than
90cc.

● Never allow a child under age 16 to operate an ATV without adult supervision, and never

allow continued use of an ATV by a child if he or she does not have the abilities to oper­ate it safely.

● Never carry a passenger on an ATV.

● Always avoid operating an ATV on any paved surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways,

parking lots and streets.

● Never operate an ATV on any public street, road or highway, even a dirt or gravel one.

2-1

● Never operate an ATV without wearing an approved motorcycle helmet that fits proper-

ly. You should also wear eye protection (goggles or face shield), gloves, boots, long­sleeved shirt or jacket, and long pants.

● Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while operating this ATV.

● Never operate at speeds too fast for your skills or the conditions. Always go at a speed

that is proper for the terrain, visibility and operating conditions, and your experience.

●

Never attempt wheelies, jumps, or other stunts.

● Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to make sure it is in safe operating condi-

tion. Always follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules de­scribed in this manual.

● Always keep both hands on the handlebars and both feet on the footboards of the ATV

during operation.

● Always go slowly and be extra careful when operating on unfamiliar terrain. Always be

alert to changing terrain conditions when operating the ATV.

● Never operate on excessively rough, slippery or loose terrain until you have learned and

practiced the skills necessary to control the ATV on such terrain. Always be especially
cautious on these kinds of terrain.

●

Always follow proper procedures for turning as described in this manual. Practice turn­ing at low speeds before attempting to turn at faster speeds. Do not turn at excessive
speed.

● Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for the ATV or for your abilities. Practice on

smaller hills before attempting larger hills.

2

2

3

4

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5

6

7

8

9

20

22

22

23

24

2-2

● Always follow proper procedures for climbing hills as described in this manual. Check

the terrain carefully before you start up any hill. Never climb hills with excessively slip­pery or loose surfaces. Shift your weight forward. Never open the throttle suddenly or
make sudden gear changes. Never go over the top of a hill at high speed.

● Always follow proper procedures for going down hills and for braking on hills as de-

scribed in this manual. Check the terrain carefully before you start down any hill. Shift

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your weight backward. Never go down a hill at high speed. Avoid going down a hill at an
angle that would cause the vehicle to lean sharply to one side. Go straight down the hill
where possible.

● Always follow proper procedures for crossing the side of a hill as described in this man-

ual. Avoid hills with excessively slippery or loose surfaces. Shift your weight to the uphill
side of the ATV. Never attempt to turn the ATV around on any hill until you have mas­tered the turning technique described in this manual on level ground. Avoid crossing the
side of a steep hill if possible.

● Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll backwards when climbing a hill. To

avoid stalling, use proper gear and maintain a steady speed when climbing a hill. If you
stall or roll backwards, follow the special procedure for braking described in this manual.
Dismount on the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight uphill. Turn the ATV around
and remount, following the procedure described in this manual.

● Always check for obstacles before operating in a new area.

Never attempt to operate over large obstacles, such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always
follow proper procedures when operating over obstacles as described in this manual.

2-3

● Always be careful when skidding or sliding. Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by

practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces,
such as ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to reduce the chance of skidding or
sliding out of control.

● Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in water deeper than that recommended

in this manual. Remember that wet brakes may have reduced stopping ability. Test your
brakes after leaving water. If necessary, apply them several times to let friction dry out
the linings.

● Always be sure there are no obstacles or people behind you when you operate in re-

verse. When it is safe to proceed in reverse, go slowly.

● Always use the size and type tires specified in this manual.

Always maintain proper tire pressure as described in this manual.

● Never modify an ATV through improper installation or use of accessories.

● Never exceed the stated load capacity for an ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed

and securely attached. Reduce speed and follow instructions in this manual for carrying
cargo or pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for braking.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ATV SAFETY

, call the Consumer Products Safety Com-

mission at 1-800-638-2772, or the ATV Distributor’s Safety Hotline at 1-800-852-5344.

2-4

WARNING

POTENTIAL HAZARD
Improper handling of gasoline.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
Gasoline can catch fire and you could be
burned.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Always turn off the engine when refuel­ing.
Do not refuel right after the engine has
been running and is still very hot. Do not
spill gasoline on the engine or exhaust
pipe/muffler when refueling. 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.

When transporting the machine in an­other vehicle, be sure it is kept upright
and that the fuel cock is in the “OFF” po­sition. Otherwise, fuel may leak out of
the carburetor or fuel tank.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
Gasoline is poisonous and can cause
injuries.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
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.

2-5

WARNING

POTENTIAL HAZARD
Starting or running the engine in a
closed area.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
Exhaust fumes are poisonous and may
cause loss of consciousness and death
within a short time.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Always operate your machine in an area
with adequate ventilation.

2-6

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DESCRIPTION AND MACHINE IDENTIFICATION

1. Spark arrester

2. Rear carrier

3. Seat

4. Fuel tank cap

5. Front carrier

6. Brake pedal

7. Front wheel

8. Headlight

9. Fuel cock

10. Starter (choke)

11. Recoil starter

12. Taillight

13. Rear wheel

14. Shift pedal

15. Drive select lever

16. Rear brake lever

17. Parking brake

18. Main switch

19. Front brake lever

20. Throttle lever

21. Handlebar switches

NOTE:

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

3-1

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Identification numbers record

Record the key identification number, vehi­cle identification number and model label
information in the spaces provided for as­sistance when ordering spare parts from a
Yamaha dealer or for reference in case the
vehicle is stolen.

1. KEY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:

2. VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:

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Key identification number

The key identification number is stamped
on the key as shown in the following illus­tration. This number can be used for order­ing a new key.

1. Key identification number

3

3

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

30

33

3. MODEL LABEL INFORMATION:

33

33

34

3-2

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Vehicle identification number

The vehicle identification number is
stamped into the frame.

1. Vehicle identification number

NOTE:

The vehicle identification number is used
to identify your machine.

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Model label

The model label is affixed to the frame.
Record the information on this label in the
space provided. This information will be
needed to order spare parts from your
Yamaha dealer.

1. Model label

3-3

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CONTROL FUNCTIONS

WARNING

Indicates a potential hazard that could
result in serious injury or death.

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Main switch

Functions of the respective switch posi­tions are as follows:

ON:
Engine can be started only at this position
and the headlight and taillight come on
when the light switch is on.

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

4

4

4

4

5

6

7

8

9

40

44

44

44

44

4-1

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Indicator lights

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Handlebar switches

1. Reverse indicator light “R”

2. Neutral indicator light “N”

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Reverse indicator light “R”

This indicator light comes on when the
transmission is in reverse.

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Neutral indicator light “N”

This indicator light comes on when the
transmission is in neutral.

1. Lights switch “LIGHTS”

2. Engine stop switch “ENG.STOP”

3. Start switch “START”

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Engine stop switch “ENG. STOP”

Make sure that the engine stop switch is in
the “RUN” position. The engine stop switch
controls ignition and can be used at all times
to stop the engine, especially in an emer­gency. The engine will not start or run when
the engine stop switch is turned to “OFF”.

4-2

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Start switch “START”

The starter motor cranks the engine when
this switch is pushed.

CAUTION:

See the starting instructions on page 6-1
prior to starting the engine.

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Light switch “LIGHTS”

Turn the switch to the “LO” position to
switch on the low beam and the taillight.
Turn the switch to the “HI” position to
switch on the high beam and the taillight.
Turn the switch to the “OFF” position to
switch off the headlight and the taillight.

CAUTION:

Do not use the headlight with the engine
turned off for more than thirty minutes.
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.

4-3

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Throttle lever

Once the engine is running, movement of the
throttle lever will increase the engine speed.
Regulate the speed of the machine by vary­ing the throttle position. Because the throttle
is spring-loaded, the machine will decelerate,
and the engine will return to an idle any time
the hand is removed from the throttle lever.
Before starting the engine, check the throt­tle to be sure it is operating smoothly.
Make sure it returns to the idle position as
soon as the lever is released.

WARNING

POTENTIAL HAZARD
Malfunction of throttle.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
The throttle could be hard to operate,
making it difficult to speed up or slow
down when you need to. This could
cause an accident.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Check the operation of the throttle lever
before you start the engine. If it does
not work smoothly, check for the cause.
Correct the problem before riding the
ATV. Consult a Yamaha dealer if you
can’t find or solve the problem yourself.

1. Throttle lever

4-4

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Speed limiter

The speed limiter keeps the throttle from
fully opening, even when the throttle lever
is pushed to the maximum. Screwing in
the adjuster limits the maximum engine
power available and decreases the maxi­mum speed of the ATV.

1. Locknut 2. Adjuster a. 12 mm (0.47 in)

WARNING

POTENTIAL HAZARD
Improper adjustment of the speed limit­er and throttle.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
The throttle cable could be damaged.
Improper throttle operation could re­sult. You could lose control, have an ac­cident or be injured.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Do not turn the speed adjuster out more
than 12 mm (0.47 in). Always make sure
the throttle lever free play is adjusted to
3 ~ 5 mm (0.12 ~ 0.20 in). See page 8-16.

4-5

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Front brake lever

The front brake lever is located on the right
handlebar. Pull it toward the handlebar to
apply the front brake.

1. Front brake lever

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Rear brake pedal and lever

The brake pedal is located on the right side
of the machine and the brake lever is locat­ed on the left handlebar. Push down on the
pedal or pull the lever toward the handle­bar to apply the rear brake.

1. Rear brake pedal

4-6

1. Rear brake lever

4-7

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Parking brake

Use the parking brake when you have to
start the engine or park the machine, espe­cially on a slope. Apply the rear brake lever
and push down the lock plate to apply the
parking brake. Squeeze the rear brake le­ver to release the parking brake.

1. Lock plate

WARNING

POTENTIAL HAZARD
Improper use of the parking brake.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN
The ATV could start moving unexpect­edly if the parking brake is not applied
before starting the engine. This could
cause loss of control or a collision.
The brake could overheat if you ride the
ATV without releasing the parking
brake. You could lose braking perfor­mance which could cause an accident.
You could also wear out the brakes
prematurely.

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Always set the parking brake before
starting the engine.
Always be sure you have released the
parking brake before you begin to ride.

4-8