when i start my atv it makes a horrible squealing noise ..

started couple months ago nothing bad seems to be happening except this noise i have a 2005 arcticat 500 manual shift ...

this noise sounds like a squealing belt but mine is not belt drivin

 

Hard to tell but could be a starter clutch beginning to wear out. Use a mechanics stethoscope or even a rolled piece of paper to see if you can pin point the noise when you first start it up.https://www.arcticcatpartshouse.com/...lutch-assembly

 

From the video it does sound like a starter hanging up. Shouldn't be that hard to pull the starter out and look it over. With that much noise there should be signs of excess wear on it.

 

sorry should have been more specific this atv does not have a starter .. the starter is in place but i have the 05 suzuki 500 vinson moter with the dreaded idler gear pin breaking the case so no electric start for this thing just pull side..
the noise is most noticeable in the lower right side of the case .. water pump area

 

ok so started it up today used a cone as a stethoscope

that noise your hearing is 100% the cylinder the noise slowly goes away until the engine is warm then its gone... its been doing this for months...

i did put a new head gasket on when i got it cuz the head gasket was blown to smithereens

and when inspecting the cylinder which is nikasil and about 400$ cdn to get it stripped and recoated.. it had some aluminum showing like just a tiny little bit
so i said screw it and put it back together i know i know i should have just sent it off but money was tight ... so maybe the noise is the piston rubbing on bare aluminum until it gets oiled ?

 

IMO, if nikasil wears I think it'd wear to a metal sleeve not alum.
I see (for other machines) they make a slightly bigger piston for nikasiled cylinders. Maybe you need to measure the piston/bore to see what exactly is going on.

 

Hi there, I have the same sound coming from my 1998 Suzuki LTF500F. Did you ever figure out what it was? Someone told me it may well be the cam chain. Only happens in the winter, when its cold. Also been suggested to use a lower viscosity oils to try move the oil around a bit quicker. Be interested to know how you got on. Cheers.

 

Hi all,

I took the bike to a local Honda shop here in New Zealand. We went through a number of scenarios including the starter clutch, piston rings, oil pump etc... and found that it was a worn cam chain - extremely worn. They replaced the chain and showed me the old one and it was real bad. The chain had about 3mm left to the link pins and you could visibly see the damage to it. The mechanic said it was lucky it was replaced now because if it had of come apart in the engine it wouldve been catastrophic. Im glad it is done now. The bike runs like a dream now and has no high pitch squeal. Costed me a fair bit to have done but much less than a rebuild. Hope this helps anyone else who has had similar issues.