2009 Can-Am DS 450 EFI Owner's Manual (P/N 708 200 117)

• Official BRP Operator’s Guide for the 2009 Can-Am DS 450 EFI sport ATV, copyright 2008, publication 708 200 117, supplied as a 144-page PDF.
• Maps out pre-ride inspection, primary controls, break-in operation, starting, five-speed shifting, shutdown, post-ride care, rollover and water-immersion response, and transport tie-down locations.
• Details front and rear suspension setup, including spring preload, compression and rebound damping, factory baseline settings, and the requirement to keep both front shocks matched.
• Provides illustrated owner procedures for engine oil and filter service, oil-tank strainer cleaning, coolant replacement, foam air-filter care, spark-arrester cleaning, clutch and throttle adjustment, and spark-plug installation.
• Covers drive-chain inspection, lubrication, and adjustment; sprockets and slider; wheel and axle checks; suspension lubrication; hydraulic brake inspection; battery service; fuses; bulbs; and headlight aim.
• Organizes service responsibility with periodic maintenance charts and symptom-based troubleshooting while reserving EMS fault-code work, pressure testing, front alignment, brake repair, and other advanced tasks for a Can-Am dealer.

DS 450 Operation and Owner-Level Service

BRP prepared this guide to familiarize the owner/operator with the DS 450’s controls, maintenance requirements, and safe operation. It is suited to owners who have the mechanical skill and tools needed for basic service; more difficult inspections and specialized work are directed to an authorized Can-Am dealer.

The safety chapters cover the single-rider and off-road-only limitations, the minimum recommended operator age, protective equipment, terrain and hill techniques, fuel and fire hazards, hot components, and the risk of a rollover or collision. The controls section explains the throttle, front and rear brakes, clutch, parking brake, multifunction and ignition switches, indicator lamps, gearshift pedal, supplied tool kit, and seat-removal system. Fuel selection, safe refueling, starting, shifting, stopping, post-ride care, and vehicle transportation are addressed separately.

Break-In, Maintenance, and Suspension Setup

The factory break-in period runs for the first 10 operating hours before sustained full-throttle use. BRP also calls for the initial engine oil and filter replacement after three fuel tanks or five riding hours, whichever comes first, followed by a dealer inspection at 10 hours or 400 km. These early requirements are particularly relevant because the dry-sump system uses the same oil for the engine, transmission, and wet clutch.

Periodic charts divide owner and dealer responsibilities across the engine, fuel system, engine management system, electrical system, drivetrain, steering, suspension, brakes, and chassis. Dealer-listed work includes valve adjustment, cooling-system pressure testing, throttle-body service, fuel-system and fuel-pump pressure tests, EMS fault-code reading, ECM connector inspection, and front-wheel alignment. The guide identifies these requirements but does not provide the corresponding workshop test methods.

Suspension coverage explains how the front and rear settings interact and supplies factory spring-length and damping references. Illustrated adjustment points are provided for front and rear preload, compression damping, and rebound damping. The guide also stresses that unequal front-shock settings can compromise handling and stability.

Technical Reference and Repair Limits

The specification tables identify the 449.3 cc single-cylinder BRP Rotax DOHC four-valve engine and its electronic fuel injection, liquid cooling, and dry-sump lubrication. Drivetrain coverage identifies the five-speed constant-mesh transmission, multi-disc wet clutch, and chain-driven solid rear axle. Chassis specifications cover the double A-arm front suspension, rear swing arm, HPG shock absorbers, hydraulic disc brakes, steering geometry, tires, dimensions, weights, and load limits.

Further tables provide approved oil, coolant, premium fuel, and brake-fluid requirements, along with capacities, electrical ratings, spark-plug data, brake wear limits, tire pressures, adjustment data, and component-specific torque specifications.

Annotated illustrations identify the oil-tank strainer and filter assembly, clutch-cover adjuster, throttle-cable luber connection, eccentric rear-axle chain adjustment, front and rear shock adjusters, and VIN/EIN label locations. Named service aids include the supplied clutch-adjustment tool P/N 529 035 081 and cable-luber tool P/N 529 035 738.

Two manual-specific cautions help prevent avoidable damage. An overly tight clutch-release adjustment can cause premature clutch-disc wear, while high-pressure washing or gasoline can damage the drive-chain O-rings and contribute to early chain failure.

This is an Operator’s Guide, not a full shop repair manual. It does not contain internal engine or transmission repair, EFI/ECM test routines, wiring diagrams, connector pinouts, brake repair procedures, or shock disassembly. Troubleshooting is limited to preliminary checks for no-crank or no-start conditions, loss of power, overheating, backfire or misfire, unusual engine noise, shifting problems, and check-engine or limp-home warnings. A separate service manual is required for teardown work, advanced electrical diagnosis, or major repair.