New Sidewinder 2018 Noise - Normal?

[DMB]

Got off the Apex this year and went to a new Sidewinder LTX/SE. So far, so good, great sled, hit the 500 mile mark, did the oil change, no issues. My only concern is a noise I keep hearing at low RPM under 6k when on/off throtttle at low speeds. It's like a growling or winding noise best I can describe it, very noticeable with helmet off or shield lifted. Is this a normal sound, am I a dope and just hearing the turbo wind up and down?

It's made the noise since the 1st mile, if anything a little irritating at low speeds, don't hear it at hard throttle on high speeds or over 6k RPMs. Just want to make sure this is normal before I waste a trip to the Dealer.

How about fuel when 91 isn't available?

Thanks!

 

[WinterWolf]

I think you’re hearing the exhaust note at low RPM..almost like a sonic rattle/vibration at low RPM’s. Mine does it too...I got used to it. I ride in N.Aroostook county Maine...so I’m not riding at low RPM’s very often..so don’t hear it much cuz I blast through that part of the RPM range...unless I’m going very slow in a tight area.

But It’s normal.

 

[Buckeye]

I think you’re hearing the exhaust note at low RPM..almost like a sonic rattle/vibration at low RPM’s. Mine does it too...I got used to it. I ride in N.Aroostook county Maine...so I’m not riding at low RPM’s very often..so don’t hear it much cuz I blast through that part of the RPM range...unless I’m going very slow in a tight area.

But It’s normal.

Yep, mine does it too. Very annoying! I am considering a different muffler for next year.

 

[KnappAttack]

1. It's the clutch noise or noise form the splines on the PTO shaft. And it is the one thing I really dislike about the sled.

2. If 91 octane is not available, you can put in 87 octane.

 

[WinterWolf]

NO. this noise isn’t the clutch...it’s in the exhaust note.

My sled sounds like a diesel at idle due to the clutch rattle....once off idle no more clutch noise.

What DMB is talking about is the exhaust sound at low RPM’s.

 

[KnappAttack]

NO. this noise isn’t the clutch...it’s in the exhaust note.

My sled sounds like a diesel at idle due to the clutch rattle....once off idle no more clutch noise.

What DMB is talking about is the exhaust sound at low RPM’s.

The clutch rattle is pretty pronounced from about 4200 up till about to 5500 or so.
Even with a muffler change its still there on the Winder. Switch to a PB80 clutch and locktite the splines and you'll see the noise go away completely.
You have the same clutch noise in all the 3 cylinder four-strokes, Vector, Nytro and Doo's 1200. Put a PB80 on the 1200 and noise is gone forever.

Its not the exhaust. It's the clutch. Vector and Nytro have rear exhaust and they have the same awful clutch rattle at the same RPM.

The harmonics on the crankshaft and clutch at that RPM between 4000-6000 RPM is very pronounced on the three cylinder four-stroke, if run there a bunch it will eat inferior clutches right up. Its the reason the TRA would come apart on the 1200 and they went to the e-drive on it, which took two versions of upgrade to it to get it to survive. I suspect its also the reason the Winder eats rollers for breakfast just like the first version of the e-drive did.

Its normal and its clutch rattle. Same as every other three cylinder four-stroke in a snowmobile.

 

[Buckeye]

NO. this noise isn’t the clutch...it’s in the exhaust note.

My sled sounds like a diesel at idle due to the clutch rattle....once off idle no more clutch noise.

What DMB is talking about is the exhaust sound at low RPM’s.

I agree. It is definitely the exhaust. It is more pronounced in the bumps as the exhaust outlet gets closer to the ground. I notice it between 25 and 33 miles an hour.

 

[XP123]

I noticed this also and yes it's the exhaust drone. It gives me a headache if I spend too much time at certain RPM's. When riding in Quebec a few weeks ago my ears were ringing at the end of the day. I'm thinking it has to do with the Yamaha engine. I noticed it on my Apex and Nytro. The Yamah drone will drive you crazy.

 

[stevewithOCD]

3 things i HAVE to say here:

1. when idling next to an 850 Doo, you can't even tell the 'Winder is running
2. the reason you can hear the clutch is 'cuz this muffler is THAT freakin' quiet
3. you boys SERIOUSLY need to consider an I-pod.......i mean SERIOUSLY

 

[superb]

Got off the Apex this year and went to a new Sidewinder LTX/SE. So far, so good, great sled, hit the 500 mile mark, did the oil change, no issues. My only concern is a noise I keep hearing at low RPM under 6k when on/off throtttle at low speeds. It's like a growling or winding noise best I can describe it, very noticeable with helmet off or shield lifted. Is this a normal sound, am I a dope and just hearing the turbo wind up and down?

It's made the noise since the 1st mile, if anything a little irritating at low speeds, don't hear it at hard throttle on high speeds or over 6k RPMs. Just want to make sure this is normal before I waste a trip to the Dealer.

How about fuel when 91 isn't available?

Thanks!

Mine did the exact same thing. My dealer replaced the front drive bearing and the brake rotor. He had a machine shop make up shims to take the play out of the rotor and it fixed the problem. Mine made noise for over a thousand miles and it’s finally fixed. Hope this helps.

 

[WinterWolf]

Mine did the exact same thing. My dealer replaced the front drive bearing and the brake rotor. He had a machine shop make up shims to take the play out of the rotor and it fixed the problem. Mine made noise for over a thousand miles and it’s finally fixed. Hope this helps.

No, this is not the brake rotor at all, or the drive bearing...imo it’s the exhaust note at low R’s.

And if it’s not... and it’s the clutch(which I don’t think it is) then I only hear it when I’m at very low R’s just off idle..and that’s bearly ever where I ride.

 

[XP123]

It's not the brake rotor or bearings. It's the drone from the muffler and intake. All my Yamahas have had it.

 

[74Nitro]

Knapp is entirely correct here. I've never heard any unusual exhaust noise from my winder.
The noise is the splines and also the smallest amount of clearance in the spider slide buttons, and yes, it is annoying when driving at slower speeds.
I've probably shimmed over a hundred of these triple clutches, and done it on the Apex also, over the last 10 years using the Yamaha spider shim which are 3 thousands thick. Sometimes when I shim these clutches, the spring can barely push the clutch back, it seems a little snug, but this takes most of the noise away. You won't fit these shims in on a brand new machine.
However, these shims don't work on the Winder clutch, but the shims from the Polaris clutch rebuild kits will, and they come in very small thickness, .0025

 

[SumpBuster]

That's what the throttle is for. Remember the Apex mono transfer rod clunk on certain slow conditions? Solution? GO FASTER! Sidewinder makes all sounds go away and get replaced by rushing wind!
Cost for repair? A few less mpg.

 

[superb]

No, this is not the brake rotor at all, or the drive bearing...imo it’s the exhaust note at low R’s.

And if it’s not... and it’s the clutch(which I don’t think it is) then I only hear it when I’m at very low R’s just off idle..and that’s bearly ever where I ride.

I could only here the noise at low speeds, but you had to be moving. Sounded like a bearing. My bearing was fine but they changed it anyway, the new brake rotor and shim solved my issue.