First of all thanks for having me.

I've always owed Polaris atv's ('95 300, '03 500ho, '08 500efi) and a Honda three wheeler ('82 200, funnest little toy ever). This is my first Yamaha. I picked it up this afternoon. its an 03 Kodiak 450 with 4,000 miles and I think I did ok at $1600. Has a new set of 26" swamp fox plus tires. The plastics look like it lived its life outside, badly faded.... Mechanically I think its ok just lacking some maintenance and the carb needs cleaning.

It only starts in park. I thought if I applied the hand breaks I could start it in gear? Am I wrong?

Are the front ends of these always noisy? Sounds like a loud ticking coming from the front left. Axles and u joints seem fine. Is there diff fluids I should be checking/changing?

Where could I download a manual (free)?

I am sure I will have a ton of questions as I start to bring this thing back from its neglected state to its former glory. But should be worth it in the end. So thanks in advance.

 

Just to simplify things just call it a 450 Grizzly, Yamaha dropped the Kodiak name years back but they are the same ATV.
You should get better feed back from this forum. http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...2=195808&go=Go

 

TLC, now your getting me confused about the name. I have a 05 Kodiak and thats what I order parts under. Don't recon they make the Kodiak any more and Grizzly is the replacement I'm assuming help me out on this.

 

The Kodiak name became very confusing. The first one was the Kodiak 400 air cooled foot shift 5 speed and its name was changed to the 400 Big bear 1999 Yamaha Kodiak ATVs
The they made a short lived 401cc liguid cooled Kodiak with a straight axle http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...hicleCode=1773

Finally the made the 450 Kodiak and in 2007 they changed the name to Grizzly up to this day.2003 Yamaha Kodiak 450 Automatic 4x4 ATVs

People are just more used to the name Grizzly because the 450 has been called that for a longer period of time.

Same goes with their 350 Bruin when they confused people by calling it a 350 Grizzly for some reason. http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...e2=38365&go=Go
Someone at Yamaha must of been bored.

I live in Canada and Yamaha kept the Bruin name longer, my 2007 350 has the name Bruin on the tank, yet my friends 2007 350 he bought in the States is called Grizzly. When I look up parts their was no such thing as a 2007 Bruin 350 on the parts list.

 

Should be able to check the diff fluid...if you are getting a clicking out of the front end you are probably either talking a wheel bearing out (wobbly wheel) or the cv is out in the front axle (I am assuming you are talking cv rather than u-joints). Does it do it more when you turn one direction or the other. Oh...for the diff fluid...drain plug in bottom and fill plug on right side of diff...fill it until it starts running out of the fill hole!

 

Just ordered a service manual off amazon. Should help out a bit.

 

Yeah most of the routine maintenance on these is pretty straight forward!

 

TLC, Thank you sir.

 

[QUOTE=03mossy;3204159

It only starts in park. I thought if I applied the hand breaks I could start it in gear? Am I wrong?

.[/QUOTE]

Only starts in Park or Neutral.

 

Try all three one at a time while in gear, both leavers and the foot brake. One should start it up while in gear.