05 Yamaha 450 KODIAK whining noise

[t/c tim]

 My 05 Kodiak has starting making a whining noise only has 170 miles on it
does not bother it same power nothing has changed. I was told it was the
 Belt in side. What do you guys think it is the auto mod.
thanksT/C Tim

[Old Syko]

Without a better description it would be impossible to say, but a safe place to start is inside the drive cover.  Could be nothing more than a glazed belt and sheave or as bad as a failing clutch.  I'd pull the cover off and take a look.

[Drilling Man]

My 05 Kodiak has starting making a whining noise only has 170 miles on it
does not bother it same power nothing has changed. I was told it was the
 Belt in side. What do you guys think it is the auto mod.
thanksT/C Tim

  Does it do it when you are going fast and then let off on it?

  I'm betting you were told right, as the Yamaha belt drive tranny is designed different than the others.  (read better) The belt stays under full tension, so it doesn't get glazed, and it's NOT used as part of the clutch either.

  My Grizzly has the origional belt in it, and it has made a bit of a bit of whineing noise for years now, but it never slips, squeaks or bothers in any way shape or form!

  DM

[Old Syko]

My 05 Kodiak has starting making a whining noise only has 170 miles on it
does not bother it same power nothing has changed. I was told it was the
 Belt in side. What do you guys think it is the auto mod.
thanksT/C Tim

  Does it do it when you are going fast and then let off on it?

  I'm betting you were told right, as the Yamaha belt drive tranny is designed different than the others.  (read better) The belt stays under full tension, so it doesn't get glazed, and it's NOT used as part of the clutch either.

  My Grizzly has the origional belt in it, and it has made a bit of a bit of whineing noise for years now, but it never slips, squeaks or bothers in any way shape or form!

  DM

They DO get glazed and will eat through the sides of the sheaves if not addressed.  I've replaced enough of them myself.  Usually the glazing is caused by contaminants such as water and sand entering the housing.  If left there without cleaning them out properly the damage can become quite expensive.  Neighbors Kodiak cost him over $1200 in drive parts due to a busted cover and running in the coal flats after a downpour.

No noise coming from the drive area is a good noise on a Yamaha.  Check it out or have it checked out, otherwise you may wish you had. 

[t/c tim]

I forgot to mention it does it all the time. its not been in any deep water or anything deep
idleind and all. It does not slip at all. Its more than likely glazed. It just sets here and only
gets run when Deer season is in. But with no more miles thans on it it would be ok.
I have also been told it needs to be riden more than what it gets. I bought it at the end
of 04 new.
Thanks
Tim

[Old Syko]

This thing is 6 years old and has 170 miles on it!  That whining noise is nothing but the poor thing crying to be ridden.     When they set everything that can rusts corrodes or tries to foul up the best way it can.  Condensation or just plain high humidity can cause more damage that using the thing once in a while.  I would guess a dry clutch to be causing the noise but who knows.  My present ride is only 2 years older than yours and it has 27,000 miles on it.

Something you may want to look at.
http://www.nyrocatv.com/forum.cgi?viewtopic=32089
 

[Lloyd Smale]

my grizzly does the same. I think its just part of the clutch design.

[markc]

Letting any motorized vehicle sit that much is asking for trouble.  Just curious whether or not all fluid levels have been chacked and are okay?  Have the fluids been changed in a while?  170 miles is like a couple of weekend rides down here.   Send that Kodiak down here to keep my 450 Rhino company. 

[Drilling Man]

My 05 Kodiak has starting making a whining noise only has 170 miles on it
does not bother it same power nothing has changed. I was told it was the
 Belt in side. What do you guys think it is the auto mod.
thanksT/C Tim

  Does it do it when you are going fast and then let off on it?

  I'm betting you were told right, as the Yamaha belt drive tranny is designed different than the others.  (read better) The belt stays under full tension, so it doesn't get glazed, and it's NOT used as part of the clutch either.

  My Grizzly has the origional belt in it, and it has made a bit of a bit of whineing noise for years now, but it never slips, squeaks or bothers in any way shape or form!

  DM

They DO get glazed and will eat through the sides of the sheaves if not addressed.  I've replaced enough of them myself.  Usually the glazing is caused by contaminants such as water and sand entering the housing.  If left there without cleaning them out properly the damage can become quite expensive.  Neighbors Kodiak cost him over $1200 in drive parts due to a busted cover and running in the coal flats after a downpour.

No noise coming from the drive area is a good noise on a Yamaha.  Check it out or have it checked out, otherwise you may wish you had. 

  I stand by my origional post, as one belt in a spl. extreme circumstance, does not mean it's common or even near average.  The belts in the Yamaha's just plain rarely need serviceing, in fact my dealer had not ever replaced one or sold a replacement when i asked him about buying a spare THREE years after i bought my Grizzly.  Also, keep in mind he's talking about a Kodiak with 170 miles on it!

  NOW, if we were talking about a Polaris, it would be different story!!

  If the origional poster is really worried about the noise, i'd take it to a dealer and have it checked out, as it's VERY hard to diagnose a possible noise problem on the puter.

  DM

[Old Syko]

One thing I've noticed is that all ATVs have their quirky noises.  Most of us get used to them and are able to recognize any changes that are a sign of trouble.  With 170 miles in 6 years who knows?  A whine from the drive case that wasn't there in the beginning is usually a problem in the works.

DM one incident wouldn't mean a thing but what of all the rest?  I'm not a dealer but just someone who is willing to help out some folks he rides with.  I'm not sure how many Yammys we have here, a couple dozen or so i suppose, but in the last year I've personally had a hand in replacing one Kodiak clutch and belt, two Grizz clutches and belts and probably 4 or so more other belts that had problems.  A hundred buck belt isn't that big an issue but when it causes a clutch to self destruct the ante goes up in a hurry.  I would have second thoughts about any dealer who tried to convince folks their wares were near indestructible.

BTW once you fix one and others find out about it and they will find you when the need you.

[Drilling Man]

One thing I've noticed is that all ATVs have their quirky noises.  Most of us get used to them and are able to recognize any changes that are a sign of trouble.  With 170 miles in 6 years who knows?  A whine from the drive case that wasn't there in the beginning is usually a problem in the works.

DM one incident wouldn't mean a thing but what of all the rest?  I'm not a dealer but just someone who is willing to help out some folks he rides with.  I'm not sure how many Yammys we have here, a couple dozen or so i suppose, but in the last year I've personally had a hand in replacing one Kodiak clutch and belt, two Grizz clutches and belts and probably 4 or so more other belts that had problems.  A hundred buck belt isn't that big an issue but when it causes a clutch to self destruct the ante goes up in a hurry.  I would have second thoughts about any dealer who tried to convince folks their wares were near indestructible.

BTW once you fix one and others find out about it and they will find you when the need you.

  All i can tell you is, there's a LOT of Yamaha's in this area, and my own Yamaha's here on my farm get worked HARD.  I skid logs, pull huge loads of rocks, move wagons, and even pull a tractor from time to time.  My old Grizzly still has the origional belt, and so do all of the ones my friends run.  I have to conclude they are a pretty well made/designed tranny.

  DM

[markc]

DM, I agree the Yamaha's have a great system.  Mine gets worked very hard as well. I think one key to long belt life with any of them is to use the low range setting when towing, pulling etc.. rather than trying to rev the rpm's in high range setting. 

ATV's without a low range, well thats a bummer.  That was a one time major complaint on the Polaris Ranger, and the fix, or recommendation to increase belt life was to be sure to use low range when climbing or towing.  They may have fixed that issue, but since they are becoming MADE in Mexico, I won't even consider purchasing one in the future.