Yamaha RAPTOR YFM50RW User manual

This A
OWNER’S MANUAL
LIT-11626-20-27 5YF-28199-14
This ATV should not be ridden by anyone under 6 years of age.
YFM50RW
WARNING
READ THIS MANUAL CAREFULLY!
It contains important safety information.

EBU17091

EBU17170
INTRODUCTION
EBU17180
Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha YFM50RW. This ATV represents the result of many years
of Yamaha experience in the production of fine sporting, touring, and pacesetting 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 ATV.
This manual includes important safety information. It provides information about special tech-
niques and skills necessary to ride the ATV. It also includes basic maintenance and inspection proce-
dures. If you have any questions regarding the operation or maintenance of your ATV, please consult a
Yamaha dealer.
AN IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE:
●
READ THIS MANUAL TOGETHER WITH TIPS FOR THE ATV RIDER CAREFULLY AND COMPLETE-
LY BEFORE OPERATING YOUR ATV. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
●
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WARNING AND CAUTION LABELS ON THE ATV.
●
NEVER OPERATE AN ATV WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING OR INSTRUCTION. FREE TRAINING IS
AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO BUYS A NEW ATV. CALL 1-800-887-2887 FOR MORE INFORMA-
TION.
●
THIS ATV, AND ANY OTHER ATV OVER 50 cc, SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED BY A CHILD UNDER
6 YEARS OF AGE.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS:
This ATV is not a toy. Before you let your child ride this ATV, you should understand the instructions and
warnings in this Owner’s Manual. Then be sure your child understands and will follow them. Children differ

in skills, physical abilities and judgment. Some children may not be able to operate an ATV safely. Parents
should supervise their child’s use of the ATV at all times. Parents should permit continued use only if they
determine that the child has the ability to operate the ATV safely.
Your ATV was delivered with an adjustable speed limiter. Yamaha recommends that all beginners start off
with the speed limiter screw turned in to limit the amount of speed available while they learn. The speed
limiter screw may be gradually turned out to increase maximum speed as the beginner becomes more fa-
miliar with operating the ATV.
If your child is a beginner or is inexperienced, he or she should take a training course. See the previous
page for information about the free training available to purchasers of new ATVs.

EBU17330
IMPORTANT MANUAL INFORMATION
EBU17341
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE WARNINGS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS IN-
JURY OR DEATH.
Particularly important information is distinguished in this manual by the following notations:
* Product and specifications are subject to change without notice.
The Safety Alert Symbol means ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
Failure to follow WARNING instructions could result in severe injury
or death to the ATV operator, a bystander, or a person inspecting or
repairing the ATV.
A CAUTION indicates special precautions that must be taken to avoid
damage to the ATV.
A NOTE provides key information to make procedures easier or clearer.
WARNING
CAUTION:
NOTE:

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IMPORTANT NOTICE
EBU17360
Welcome to the Yamaha world of motor sports!
This ATV is designed and manufactured for OFF-ROAD use only. It is illegal and unsafe to operate this ATV
on any public street, road or highway.
This ATV 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 ATV.
EBU17381
AFFIX DEALER
LABEL HERE
YFM50RW
OWNER’S MANUAL
©2006 by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
1st edition, April 2006
All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in Japan.
P/N LIT-11626-20-27

WARNING
EWB00010
Indicates a potential hazard that could result in
serious injury or death.
EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 1-1
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1
Left view ..................................................... 3-1
Right view................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ........................... 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1
Main switch ............................................... 4-1
Indicator light ............................................. 4-2
Handlebar switches ................................... 4-2
Engine stop switch with lanyard ................ 4-3
Throttle lever ............................................. 4-5
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-5
Front brake lever ........................................ 4-6
Rear brake lever ........................................ 4-7
Parking brake ............................................. 4-7
Drive select lever ....................................... 4-8
Fuel tank cap ............................................. 4-9
Fuel ............................................................ 4-9
Fuel cock ................................................. 4-11
Choke ...................................................... 4-12
Seat ......................................................... 4-13
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Pre-operation check list ............................. 5-1
Fuel ............................................................ 5-3
Engine oil ................................................... 5-3
Final gear oil .............................................. 5-3
Front and rear brakes ................................ 5-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 5-4
Tires ........................................................... 5-4
Measuring the tire pressure ....................... 5-5
Tire wear limit ............................................ 5-6
Chassis fasteners ...................................... 5-7
Instruments, lights and switches ................ 5-7
Battery ....................................................... 5-7
OPERATION...................................................6-1
Starting a cold engine ................................ 6-1
Starting a warm engine .............................. 6-3
Shifting ....................................................... 6-3

Engine break-in ......................................... 6-5
Parking ...................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope .................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ........................... 6-7
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV.............. 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD
JUDGEMENT ...........................................7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE.......... 7-11
TURNING YOUR ATV ............................. 7-15
CLIMBING UPHILL .................................. 7-17
RIDING DOWNHILL................................. 7-20
CROSSING A SLOPE.............................. 7-21
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER ..................................................7-22
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN .......... 7-24
SLIDING AND SKIDDING........................ 7-25
WHAT TO DO IF... ................................... 7-26
WHAT TO DO... ....................................... 7-26
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR
REPAIR.......................................................... 8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit ...................... 8-1
Periodic maintenance chart for the
emission control system .......................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication
chart ........................................................ 8-5
Checking the spark plug ............................ 8-8
Engine oil ................................................. 8-10
Final gear oil ............................................ 8-13
Cleaning the air filter element .................. 8-14
Cleaning the spark arrester ..................... 8-17
Adjusting the carburetor ........................... 8-19
Adjusting the engine idling speed ............ 8-19
Checking the throttle cable free play ....... 8-20
Valve clearance ....................................... 8-20
Checking the front and rear brake
shoes .....................................................8-21
Adjusting the front brake lever free
play ........................................................8-22
Adjusting the rear brake lever free
play ........................................................8-24
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-25
Checking and lubricating the front and
rear brake levers ....................................8-26
Checking the wheel bearings ................... 8-26
Lubricating the knuckle shafts ................. 8-26
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-27
Battery ..................................................... 8-27
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-30
Removing a wheel ................................... 8-31
Installing a wheel ..................................... 8-32
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-33
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 8-35
CLEANING AND STORAGE ..........................9-1
Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1

Storage ...................................................... 9-2
SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION ...................... 11-1
Identification numbers ............................. 11-1
Noise regulation ...................................... 11-3
Maintenance record ................................ 11-3
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION,
U.S.A. ATV LIMITED WARRANTY ....... 11-5
YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE
(Y.E.S.) .................................................. 11-7

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EBU17430
SAFETY INFORMATION
SAFETY INFORMATION
EBU17631
AN ATV IS NOT A TOY AND CAN BE HAZARD-
OUS TO OPERATE. An ATV handles differently
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 obstacles, 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 fol-
low the operating procedures described.
●
Never operate an ATV without proper training or
instruction. Take a Training Course. Beginners
should receive training from a certified instruc-
tor. Contact an authorized ATV dealer or call 1-
800-887-2887 to find out about the training
courses nearest you.
●
Always follow the age recommendation:
–A child under 6 years old should never operate
an ATV with engine size greater than 50 cc.
–A child under 12 years old should never oper-
ate an ATV with engine size greater than 70 cc.
–A child under 16 years old should never oper-
ate an ATV with engine size greater than 90 cc.
●
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, park-
ing lots and streets.
●
Never operate an ATV on any public street, road
or highway, even a dirt or gravel one.
●
Never operate an ATV without wearing an ap-
proved motorcycle helmet that fits properly. You
should also wear eye protection (goggles or face
shield), gloves, boots, a long-sleeved shirt or a
jacket, and long pants.
●
Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while

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operating this ATV.
●
Never operate at speeds too fast for your skills
or the riding conditions. Always go at a speed
that is proper for the terrain, visibility, 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 condition. Al-
ways follow the inspection and maintenance
procedures and schedules described in this
manual.
●
Always keep both hands on the handlebars and
both feet on the footrests of the ATV during op-
eration.
●
Always go slowly and be extra careful when op-
erating 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 prac-
ticed 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 and never turn at excessive speeds.
●
Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for the
ATV or for your abilities. Practice on smaller hills
before attempting larger hills.
●
Always follow proper procedures for climbing
hills as described in this manual. Check the ter-
rain carefully before you start up any hill. Never
climb hills with excessively slippery or loose sur-
faces. 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 described in this
manual. Check the terrain carefully before you
start down any hill. Shift your weight backward.
Never go down a hill at high speed. Avoid going
down a hill at an angle that would cause the ve-
hicle 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 manual.
Avoid hills with excessively slippery or loose sur-
faces. 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 tech-
nique described in this manual on level ground.

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Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill if possible.
●
Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll
backwards when climbing a hill. If you stall or roll
backwards, follow the special procedure for
braking described in this manual. Apply the front
brake or 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 obsta-
cles as described in this manual.
●
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 re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of con-
trol.
●
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 use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.
●
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.
●
Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion 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 in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo or
pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for brak-
ing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ATV SAFE-
TY, call the Consumer Products Safety Commis-
sion at 1-800-638-2772, or the ATV Distributor’s
Safety Hotline at 1-800-852-5344.

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TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO OPERATE THE
ATV
EWB00040
You must make the commitment to your child’s
proper use of the ATV. Your child must rely upon
you to be sure he or she has the development,
proper training, and proper equipment, as well as
an appropriately sized ATV and an appropriate
riding area.
Be sure your child is ready to learn how to ride
As a parent, your first step is to decide when your
child has the strength, skills, and judgment to learn
how to operate an ATV safely. To help you make
that decision, the ATV Safety Institute publishes a
readiness checklist. It is printed in the Parents,
Youngsters and ATVs booklet that was included
with your ATV when newly purchased. You can
also review the checklist on the Internet at
www.atvsafety.org. Re-evaluate your child’s readi-
ness before every use; a child who is too tired or
distracted should not be allowed to operate the
ATV.
Be sure your child is properly trained
Your child should take a certified training course,
like the ATV RiderCourse®offered by the ATV
Safety Institute. Call ATV Enrollment Express toll-
free at 1-800-887-2887 for more information.
Training will continue with you as the instructor, so
you should be sure you thoroughly understand
proper riding techniques before continuing to in-
WARNING
POTENTIAL HAZARD
Allowing a child under 16 to operate this ATV
without adult supervision (a child under 6
should not ride this ATV even with adult su-
pervision).
WHAT CAN HAPPEN
If the child rides beyond his or her abilities,
or rides in terrain that is too difficult, he or
she may lose control of the ATV, causing an
accident.
HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Never let your child ride an ATV without
close adult supervision. Promptly correct
your child if he or she begins to ride beyond
his or her abilities and, if necessary, inter-
vene by pulling the cord (lanyard) to stop the
engine.
Introduce new riding areas slowly and make
sure the riding area matches your child’s
skill level.

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struct your child. Go through this Owner’s Manual
and the Parents, Youngsters and ATVs booklet
page by page with your child and be sure he or she
understands how to operate the ATV properly.
Be sure your child is wearing all the proper
safety equipment
Your child must always wear an approved motor-
cycle helmet that fits properly. Your child should
also wear the safety equipment described in the
Riding Your ATV section of this manual.
Choose an appropriate riding area
Select an area appropriate for your child to learn to
ride. (See page 7-11.) Follow the instructions in
the Riding Your ATV section of this manual.
Choose a large, flat off-road area that is free of ob-
stacles and away from other vehicles.
Supervise every use of the ATV
Because an adult must supervise every ATV oper-
ator under age 16, you should closely watch your
child every time he or she uses the ATV. Be ready
to intervene immediately if the child is not operat-
ing according to your guidelines. This ATV is fitted
with an engine stop switch cord (lanyard) device
that will let you stop the engine remotely as you
walk behind the vehicle.
ENGINE STOP SWITCH CORD
This model has an engine stop switch cord (lan-
yard) designed for use by an adult supervising the
child operating the ATV. When using the engine
stop switch cord, be sure the speed limiter on the
handlebar is adjusted to limit the ATV to a walking
speed. (See page 4-5.)
1. Push the clip on the end of the engine stop
switch cord under the engine shut-off switch
(black button).
2. Put your fingers in the loop at the other end of
the cord.
3. As your child is riding, walk behind the ATV,
closely watching his or her actions as well as
the path ahead.
4. If there is a potential hazard ahead or if your
child is not riding correctly, pull firmly on the
cord to stop the engine. Because the ATV will
continue to roll for some distance, allow extra
time and distance to pull the cord before a po-
tentially hazardous situation might be encoun-
tered.
When your child has developed sufficient skill to no
longer need you to follow with the cord, the cord
can be stowed under the seat of the ATV. Howev-

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er, you must still closely supervise your child at all
times during ATV operation.
NOTE:
The ATV will not start without the clip in place. Be
sure to remove the cord and store it in a safe place
to prevent operation of the ATV when you are not
around to supervise.
EWB00021
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 ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling.
Never refuel while smoking, or in the vicinity
of sparks, open flames, or other sources of
ignition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers.
When transporting the ATV in another vehi-
cle, 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 inju-
ries.
HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
If you should swallow some gasoline or in-
hale a lot of gasoline vapor, or get some gas-
oline in your eyes, seek medical help
immediately. If gasoline spills on your skin,
wash with soap and water. If gasoline spills
on your clothing, change your clothes.

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EWB00030
WARNING
POTENTIAL HAZARD
Starting or running the engine in a closed ar-
ea.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN
Exhaust fumes are poisonous and may
cause loss of consciousness and death with-
in a short time.
HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD
Always operate your ATV in an area with ad-
equate ventilation.

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EBU17660
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND SPECIFICATION LABELS
1
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EBU17670
Read and understand all of the labels on your ATV. These labels contain important information for safe and
proper operation.
Never remove any labels from your ATV. If a label becomes difficult to read or comes off, request a replace-
ment label from your Yamaha dealer.

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WARNING
UNDER
6
Operating this ATV if you are under
the age of 6increases your chance
of severe injury or death.
NEVER permit children under age 6
to operate this ATV.
5YF-21697-00
Adult supervision required for children
under age 16.
WARNING
Improper ATV use can result in SEVERE
INJURY or DEATH.
ALWAYS USE NEVER USE NEVER CARRY NEVER USE
AN APPROVED ON PUBLIC PASSENGERS WITH DRUGS
HELMET AND ROADS OR ALCOHOL
PROTECTIVE
GEAR
NEVER
operate :
without proper training or instruction.
at speeds too fast for your skills or
the conditions.
on public roads-a collision can occur
with another vehicle.
with a passenger-passengers affect balance
and steering and increase risk
of losing control.
ALWAYS :
use proper riding techniques to avoid
vehicle overturns on hills and rough terrain
and it turns.
avoid paved surfaces-pavement may
seriously affect handling and control.
LOCATE AND READ OWNER'S MANUAL.
FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS.
5FE-21568-01
(For replacement manual, call 1-800-532-1558)
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qWARNING
IMPROPER TIRE PRESSURE OR OVERLOADING CAN
CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.
LOSS OF CONTROL CAN RESULT IN SEVERE
INJURY OR DEATH.
OPERATING TIRE PRESSURE: Set with tires cold
9
Recommended : FRONT : 20 kPa, {
0.20 kgf/cm2}2.9 psi
REAR
: 20 kPa, {
0.20 kgf/cm2}2.9 psi
9 Minimum
: FRONT : 17 kPa, {
0.17 kgf/cm2}2.5 psi
REAR
: 17 kPa, {
0.17 kgf/cm2}2.5 psi
9 Never set tire pressure below minimum.
It could cause the tire to dislodge from the rim.
LOADING
9
Maximum Vehicle Load :40 kg, (88 lbs).
Includes weight of operator, cargo and accessories.
5YF-21696-00
qWARNING
NEVER ride as a
passenger.
Passengers can cause
a loss of control,
resulting in SEVERE
INJURY or DEATH.
5FE-2151H-01
5YF-21696-00
5FE-2151H-01
34