My starter seems to have "teeth engagement problems" and sometimes "freewheels" or "slams in after a second" after hitting the starter button.
Anyone else had this problem?

 

1st: I would check the wires going to your starter to make sure the are tight.
2nd: Check the bolts holding the starter in. If they are loose it could be missing the flywheel one time and slamming it on the next start.

 

take it to your dealer if it's under warrenty, it's the starter gear and some other junk they didnt give me all teh details all i know is they fixed it same happened to me.

 

I just had a simular problem with mine. I took it apart and found the roller clutch on the crank was worn that runs the starter gear. I went to my dealer with the parts expecting to hear the same old story but instead found that they had just fixed another Raptor for the same problem, they ordered me the same parts they had gotten under WARRENTY. Glad i got the extended one

 

Could yours be accessed through the side cover?

 

Yes it is easy to get to under the side cover, you will need a harmonic balancer puller and three long metric bolts, 8x150x80 I think is what I got.

 

My Raptor also had this problem. At first it would "clank" as it would start, then later, it would not engage. Mine was the one-way clutch bearing and the gear it engages.

Mine was not under warranty but Yamaha paid for the parts. I did the work myself so it did not cost anything.

 

they had to split the cases on mine, TOOK THEM 3 WEEKS to get the parts in and fix it! the only good thing about it is they had to change my oil and got me a new oil filter while they were at it, but good lord why take so long?