I'm very familiar with how an automobile starter works (a solenoid pulls the overun clutch and pinion gear into the flywheel, and pinion gear pulls away after releasing the key), but I've heard that the starter in ATV's (or possibly somewhat specific to the DS650) is a little different that the pinion is always in contact with the flywheel and the one way bearing in the overrun clutch is always spinning? Is this true?

The reason I ask is that I hear a faint whining noise while the engine is running at the front of the engine. If the pinion is always engauged, than it looks like it's time to pull the starter and replace something before it get's worse.

 

Ehh. I guess I will just pull the starter and find out for myself.

I would still like to know if the noise is normal, or can I expect the over-run clutch to die soon.

 

I hear this to on my 650, Someone told me that they thought the noise was coming from the starter area when it stalls it grabs the gear. I thought he was crazy and it was something else internally but sounds like same thing

 

You are correct, the starter pinion is always in contact with the ring gear and one-way bearing during operation. Matter of fact, I believe my one-way just went out the other day...time to pony up for a new one...

I don't believe I have ever heard a noise that I can attribute to the one-way bearing itself, but I do have pretty poor hearing.