what does a wolverine sound like

That ticking is pretty normal for these engines. The Yamaha 708cc has a bit of valvetrain noise when cold. Mine does the same and I've put 5000 miles on it without issues. The whine under acceleration could be belt noise or gear mesh. I'd say ride it for a few hours and see if it changes.

I had the same concern when I bought my 2019. The tick is the injectors and valve lash. It's loud at idle but smooths out when warm. The whine might be the drive belt - these CVTs make some noise. Check your belt for wear if it gets louder.

Not all ticks are normal. If it's rhythmic and consistent, probably fine. But if it changes with engine temp or load, could be a failing bearing. I'd pull the skid plate and listen with a stethoscope. Better safe than stranded.

My 2020 X4 has a similar tick. I added a bit of Sea Foam to the oil and it quieted down. YMMV. The whine is likely the differential - these have straight-cut gears that whine. It's characteristic of the Wolverine.

You sure it's not the exhaust? I thought mine was engine noise but it was a loose heat shield. Check all your bolts. Also, the whine could be the front diff if you're in 4WD. Try in 2WD and see if it changes.

I've owned three Wolverines. They all tick. It's the fuel injectors and the mechanical fan clutch. The whine under load is normal gear noise from the transaxle. Unless it's grinding or knocking, I wouldn't worry.

Disagree with the 'all normal' crowd. I had a tick that turned out to be a loose cam chain tensioner. Caught it early but cost me a valve adjustment. Get a mechanic to listen if you're not sure. $50 now vs $500 later.

That sewing machine sound is exactly what my 2017 does. I put a louder exhaust on and now I can't hear it anymore! But seriously, the whine could be belt slip. Check your clutch weights and belt condition if you're getting into mud or hills.

I'm a mechanic at a Yamaha dealer. The tick is normal for the 700 series. It's the rocker arms. The whine is usually the intermediate gear. If it's a high-pitched squeal that's bad. But a low whine is fine. Ride it and change oil every 50 hours.

Mine sounded like a diesel at idle. I switched to 10W-40 full synthetic and it quieted down. The whine under acceleration is the CVT belt for sure. If it's loud, check your belt deflection. There's a Yamaha service bulletin on that.

You might be hearing the exhaust note. These have a unique thrum that some mistake for mechanical noise. Record a video and post it. We can help diagnose. My 2019 sounds different than my buddy's 2016 - they changed the muffler in 2018.

I had a whine that drove me crazy. Turned out to be the rear differential yoke bearing. Cost me $300 to fix. So don't ignore it. If the whine changes pitch when turning, it's diff related. Straight line only? Probably belt or gear mesh.

The tick is fine. My 2015 has 8000 miles and still ticking. The whine could be the air intake. These have a snorkel that resonates. Try removing the airbox lid and see if it goes away. Just don't ride in water without it.

I disagree with the guy who says use Sea Foam in oil. That's not a fix for mechanical noise. The injectors tick, period. If you want quiet, buy a Honda. The Wolverine is a workhorse, not a luxury ride. Embrace the noise.

Check your spark plugs. I had a loose plug that made a ticking sound. Also, the whine might be the alternator. These have a clutch-type alternator that whines under load. Normal. But if it's a grinding noise, that's different.

I'm a newbie too. My 2021 sounds like a sewing machine with a slight whine. I asked the dealer and they said it's normal. They showed me a new one on the lot that sounded the same. So I think you're good. Enjoy the trails.

The whine is often the front differential if you have it engaged. Even in 2WD, the front diff spins the halfshafts and can whine. Some people put heavier gear oil in to quiet it. I used 75W-140 and it helped.

Mine had a tick that got worse. Ended up being a cracked exhaust manifold. It sounded like a tick until it warmed up and expanded. The whine was the belt tensioner bearing. Both easy fixes. Don't ignore changes in sound over time.

I've read that the Wolverine has a characteristic 'tick' from the dual overhead cams. It's a design thing. The whine is from the spiral bevel gears in the transfer case. All normal. But keep an ear out for knocking or pinging.

You could try a different fuel octane. I run 91 non-ethanol and my engine sounds smoother. The tick reduced. Also, check your valve clearance if you're over 100 hours. That whine could be the water pump bearing. Rare but possible.