No, the noise is chain slap...the straight cut gears are on the valve train...that gives the engine that "diesel sound"...

 

I'm happy for ya Kodiak!! What JCV said, the whole quad takes time to break in. I thought mine got better every ride for the first 50 hours. Me Getting used to it was a big part of that too.

 

I think that the noise you hear is probably valve noise as the Polaris' do the same thing. I went through this with my buddies '01 440 C-dale and although the chain does rattle of the slider, the valve noise is the more prodominant sound you hear. At around 20 hrs or so, readjust your valves to minimize the noise. Also it may not be a bad idea to retorque your head bolts. Every quad I have owned I have found at least one loosend of bolt.

 

Yep, I'm wrong....been lying the WHOLE time....