First time post for me. So I got the kids an ATV for Christmas. They have rode a total of 15 minutes so far. We were riding around the house and while in gear and riding it started making a spinning or whining noise that is loud. I shut it off immediately and pushed it back to the house. Started it back up in the garage and it started fine but noise is still there. I can not pinpoint exactly where it is coming from. Kind of sounds like the starter still spinning but I'm pretty sure that's not it. It makes this noise while in gear or in neutral but louder when you rev up the engine. This is a used quad and not sure of the make. Help me please!

 

without hearing it myself, i'd say starter, BUT, fire it up and let it idle, check the voltage at the solenoid to see if the solenoid is sticking and sending voltage continually to the starter, next, while idling, touch the starter, is it getting hot from the higher RPMs? does the quad have a ripcord/pullstart? if so, start it that way and see if the sound is still there or not.

 

heck, if the starter is sticking, you can tap it with a hammer to see if it disengages.

 

Just started it back up and it ran fine for 5 minutes and then it started again. Starter did not get hot. Sound is very loud now. Going to try the wiring you suggested.

 

by chance, does it have a cooling fan under the fuel tank? sometimes, if equipped, those fans are loud.

 

No cooling fan or pull start. I took of the engine cover where the stator is and it has a pretty strong burning smell. It looks ok but the smell is pretty strong. Tried tapping the starter with a hammer while it was making the sound and it changed nothing. I bumped the starter while it was making the noise and it seemed to make it louder but was the same noise. The noise varies with engine speed but very loud at all time. Definitely not a normal sound as I have been around and ridden lots of ATV's.

 

well dang. burnt smell ain't good as you well know. hmmm....so the starter ain't staying engaged? right?