I got it diagnosed and out the door and forgot about this site until now. The manual on this site was probably the wrong one anyway but I'll try to stay semi-active if there are any other manuals I should need. Thanks for your help guys!

Yup Gw's right there.. The choke plungers are often different, and so are the idle mixture screws different sometimes if it's an aftermarket. The idle screws can't be changed but the choke plunger can mostly.. but it might not always be so.

I have noticed a difference between the aftermarket choke plunger and the OEM plunger so if an aftermarket carb has been installed the new plunger that comes with the carb needs to be installed along with it.

Yeah the plunger needs drawing out for choke, and they only work at idle, and it needs to be a slow idle, with the butterfly or slide closed right down. They draw extra air and fuel around past the butterfly or slide and that doesn't work unless the throttle is closed off .

The plunger should be out to choke, it is more of an enricher more than a true choke.

TonyWright-did you ever confirm specifically what the issue was? I have a 1 year old Axis 500 that seems like it is having the same issue. Engine makes a rattling noise when coasting downhill (no throttle). 87 hours on the machine-I changed the oil and filter around 50 hours as recommended with oil for wet clutch. This is my third issue with the machine...already replaced driveshaft and fuel injector...really frustrated

If the clanking's a metallic sound, I'd be checking the axle's universals I think. If it's something like a uj it would sound quite clear, but if it was in the gearbox then it would be a bit muffled and in a different direction. If it was trying to jump gears, having a hand on the gear change might give some indication.. it would jump. You should be able to identify where the sounds coming from a bit better if you lean and/or turn towards all four corners or the drive belt/transmission as it's making the noise. Perhaps get someone else to drive while you clamber around and lean over the sides..haha.. It's what mechanics do.. Given the "clanking" description I'd check out metal to metal contacts before taking the belt covers off. I haven't had much experience with belt drives though and Gw may know they can make quite clanking noises..

It sounds like a CVT transmission rattle, check pulleys and belt for wear and correct alignment.