Kodiak Starting Issues (mini-series) - WHAT IS THAT AWFUL NOISE? - Episode 1 - Starter Swap

The 2002 Yamaha Kodiak 400 has started making a terrible noise when I try to start it. It has been getting progressively worse, but now it's really bad. So bad, that occasionally it won't turn over at all and I have to try multiple times. Today I'm going to dig into the starting system to see if I can identify and correct this issue once and for all!
This is just Episode 1 of the series. Be sure to check back next Saturday for Episode 2! I will eventually find and fix the issue, I promise!
This starting system is very similar in all the Kodiaks around this age, and is even similar in the Grizzly models. Today's episode will even demonstrate that the starter from a Grizzly will work in this Kodiak!
Thank you so much for choosing to come along with me on this journey. I really appreciate every viewer and every subscriber!

[@prudencegumdrop9557]

Idk my starter works when i put the batter to it, can't really tell if the sound is any different. Guess i'll buy another starter & see if that fixes it.

[@3DayWeekend]

Yeah, those two I had sounded different, but in the end I put a new starter on it too. Really hard to tell on the bench with no load on it. Hopefully that's it and your starter clutch is OK!

[@prudencegumdrop9557]

​@3DayWeekend it sat in a storage locker for a year. It started when i first tried but then the engine stopped. I checked all fuses, i know the solenoid is good. Do you have like a fuel injector video or carb cleaning? Im newish to this & im having a hard time troubleshooting this machine

[@TC-de9kn]

2000 Kodiak 400 Can someone tell me where the big wire from the starter is suppose to connect to.

[@3DayWeekend]

The big red wire will go to your starter solenoid under your seat. Black wire is ground.

[@brandonbishop7932]

First thing you should’ve done is wash everything

[@3DayWeekend]

I catch a lot of heat for that! haha Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Depends on what I'm working on and the weather. We got 'er fixed up right though! Still running great after all this time. Thanks for watching!