ROADRASH

The starter motor is staying powered? That would be the starter relay sticking. If the starter is being driven by the engine while its running than the one way bearing on the flywheel has failed.

The Kodiak 400 uses Big Bear 350 parts. The Big bear was first in the generation line before the Kodiak. The Big Bear Pro came out using the larger engine as Yamaha had intended the Kodiak to go into the Ultramatic only setup. At least that's how I remember it going in Canada. The US had a different line up change.