I recently bought a used 2003 Sportsman 600. It's only got 70 miles on it, but I get the feeling they were a hard 70 miles. I'm wondering what the 'normal' noises are when it's idling. Basically, I hear 2 sounds...one is the wonderful purr from the engine, the other is a ticking or knocking sound coming from transmission(I think). If you're standing along side the quad, it's a fairly noticeable sound. Is this normal?

Thanks a bunch.

 

I don't know about a 600, but my 700 at idle sounds like a big sewing machine. No weird sounds except the clunking in the transmission which is normal for the beast.

 

That's funny, but yeah that's sort of what it sounds like...a big sewing machine. I also have the clunking when engaging the throttle, but have read in several forums that this is normal. Just wanted to make sure the idle noises were normal also, and it seems like your 700 sounds like my 600.

 

My 700 has a ticking sound, I think it is the valves opening and closing. I am more concerned about drive line noise, It seems much louder than my 500 but took back to dealer he drove it said everything is normal.

 

All the 600s and 700s I have listened to have that sound at idle, someone on a post a while back said it is cam/crankshaft gear noise. That makes sense, it sounds like valve train noise, but these things have hydraulic lifters and the noise goes away when the engine revs up. I just listenend to a brand new 2004 model the other day with 0 hours on it and it sounds just like my 03 with nearly 600 miles on it.