2009 Gator XUV Lack of Power?

[xmoto]

Hello

I have a 2009 620 XUV with 9 hours on it. I was climbing a pretty steep hill with no load in low range and it just made it. The tires didn't spin it just almost stopped moving. It was a steep hill but I was surprised it had a hard time with it. My buddy has the same machine with 200 hours on it and his has more power. Does any one have any ideas or is mine just not broken in. Thanks

 

[WOEII]

Hello

I have a 2009 620 XUV with 9 hours on it. I was climbing a pretty steep hill with no load in low range and it just made it. The tires didn't spin it just almost stopped moving. It was a steep hill but I was surprised it had a hard time with it. My buddy has the same machine with 200 hours on it and his has more power. Does any one have any ideas or is mine just not broken in. Thanks

Somethings way off! You should not have any problems with power. My XUV would tip back up on top of itself before it left off on power. I have had all 4 wheels ripping and spinning going up very steep areas without a problem. I do have the 850D engine. Power should be the last of the worries. Wish I could give you a starting point to check something but I am not sure with out any more info.
Was the engine high rpms? Belt makin noise or just bogging down? Do you have a govener switch?

 

[xmoto]

the rpms were going down as i started to slow. no governor switch no belt nose. it is still under warranty maybe i should call the dealer. i check the spark arrestor and air cleaner. unless it is one of the engine sensors.

 

[jcmseven]

I have a couple of thoughts. First, The gas Gator 620i has nowhere near the power of the 850d diesel, so we really cannot compare those two with regard to hillside performance. Second, the engine will take 30-50 hours to become broken in, so you might get a little better performance after some use. Third, there is a chance the brake might be hung (I had one that had this problem) and occasionally the parking brake sensor will not activate. The other possibility is apparently there is a spring mechanism within the CVT belt tensioner that can occasionally loosen, resulting in poor performance when under a load. Both of these common and simple things could worsen your hillside performance in a fashion such as you mention. I would DEFINITELY take it to the dealer and get them working on this to troubleshoot. Do not wait for the break-in time because while that will help some, it will not make a dramatic difference.

The final, and sadly, non-repairable reality of the 620i is that it just has no power. 23 hp in a machine that pushes 1400 pounds field ready with a CVT tuned to a 30-32 mph top speed equals a machine with lackluster performance. I have had three different gas Gators, two HPX models and one XUV model, with the Kawasaki gas engine. I got them at good prices and promptly traded or sold them for the diesel, which has much more power (read, torque). I live in a hilly area and the gas Gators are really weak when one puts them on steep hills. The problem with the CVT also is that to keep the engine within its fairly narrow powerband it will continue to slow the groundspeed of the machine, and sometimes slows it to almost walking speed to help the underpowered engine keep up its RPM's. This is not noticeable on flatter ground or shorter hills where uncle Mo can be used, but on the long or unusually steep grades it is a real drag. The short message here is that there are some simple checks and fixes that can be done, but none of them will likely make this machine a star performer. They are durable and very nice, but if you want the power go diesel--until summer of 2010 when the new model comes out which will have double the horsepower--or you could get a Ranger. I have both a diesel Gator and a Ranger and both of them will show some serious back end to a gas Gator.

John M

 

[xmoto]

I droped it off at the dealer this morning. I will post what they find.

 

[WOEII]

I have a couple of thoughts. First, The gas Gator 620i has nowhere near the power of the 850d diesel, so we really cannot compare those two with regard to hillside performance. Second, the engine will take 30-50 hours to become broken in, so you might get a little better performance after some use. Third, there is a chance the brake might be hung (I had one that had this problem) and occasionally the parking brake sensor will not activate. The other possibility is apparently there is a spring mechanism within the CVT belt tensioner that can occasionally loosen, resulting in poor performance when under a load. Both of these common and simple things could worsen your hillside performance in a fashion such as you mention. I would DEFINITELY take it to the dealer and get them working on this to troubleshoot. Do not wait for the break-in time because while that will help some, it will not make a dramatic difference.

The final, and sadly, non-repairable reality of the 620i is that it just has no power. 23 hp in a machine that pushes 1400 pounds field ready with a CVT tuned to a 30-32 mph top speed equals a machine with lackluster performance. I have had three different gas Gators, two HPX models and one XUV model, with the Kawasaki gas engine. I got them at good prices and promptly traded or sold them for the diesel, which has much more power (read, torque). I live in a hilly area and the gas Gators are really weak when one puts them on steep hills. The problem with the CVT also is that to keep the engine within its fairly narrow powerband it will continue to slow the groundspeed of the machine, and sometimes slows it to almost walking speed to help the underpowered engine keep up its RPM's. This is not noticeable on flatter ground or shorter hills where uncle Mo can be used, but on the long or unusually steep grades it is a real drag. The short message here is that there are some simple checks and fixes that can be done, but none of them will likely make this machine a star performer. They are durable and very nice, but if you want the power go diesel--until summer of 2010 when the new model comes out which will have double the horsepower--or you could get a Ranger. I have both a diesel Gator and a Ranger and both of them will show some serious back end to a gas Gator.

John M

Thanks for the input. I always thought the gasers were more powerful because JD says they are faster off the line.

Love everything about my diesel except top end. Need to figure out how to hack the electronic governer. I found out that the top speed is based on MPH and not engine rpms.
Made a vid of my highway WOT test.
YouTube - john Deere Gator XUV Haulin Arsse On Interstate Highway!

 

[WOEII]

I droped it off at the dealer this morning. I will post what they find.

Am curious to what they say.

 

[jcmseven]

WOEII,

The gassers are a bit quicker up until about 10 mph but the diesel takes over soon after that. I would say the big issue is the torque they produce. Although the gas engine and the diesel are similar in peak torque, the diesel curve is broad and flat and does not vary much with changing RPM. The gasoline Gator has a more narrow torque curve. In short, this is why on flat ground the gas Gator seems OK but put it on a steep hill or put a heavy trailer behind it, and the diesel will leave the gas model, despite only being rated at 2 hp more.

I love my John Deere products, but if speed is the need the new Polaris 800 Ranger is the ticket. I have had mine up to 55 mph and it is really fast and powerful. That said, the Gator is better in some areas of operation.

John M

 

[xmoto]

The dealer said nothing was wrong with it and to give it time to breakin. I guess it is what it is.

 

[WOEII]

The dealer said nothing was wrong with it and to give it time to breakin. I guess it is what it is.

That does not sound encouraging.