when I first got the machine it always smelled like a gas station while running and recently the thing wouldn't really run at all so I pulled the plugs and cleaned and gapped em and it ran better for a month before it coughed and sputtered so bad it couldn't even move in low range and today I cleaned all the sensors and changed the spark arrestor(bent) and it now gets up to 20 barely struggling but sputters and backfires the whole time still (exhaust only) idles funny too but only sometimes which annoys me to no end
2018 rtv-xg850 running like trash at only 125.5 hours
- Thread starter truckfixer
- Start date
Check your fuel pressure too. Had a polaris SXS that did the same and the pressure regulator in the pump was sticking.
RCW
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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
So I'm clear, this is a gasoline engine? Just want to make sure... 
This is a 2018 machine with only 125 hours. You recently bought/came to own it?
You said it had 87 octane in it, which to me says ethanol gas. Ethanol gas is really bad in my estimation, especially for something not used daily/regularly.
I would start with the carburetor. E-gas is notoriously bad on carbs.....
I would NEVER use E-gas on anything smaller than my V-8 truck....
This is a 2018 machine with only 125 hours. You recently bought/came to own it?
You said it had 87 octane in it, which to me says ethanol gas. Ethanol gas is really bad in my estimation, especially for something not used daily/regularly.
I would start with the carburetor. E-gas is notoriously bad on carbs.....
I would NEVER use E-gas on anything smaller than my V-8 truck....
it's a fuel injected gas and it has no fuel pressure check port so I'm not sure how to check the fuel pressure and it ran just fine on ethanol for over a year and was used about 4 times a month but got new fuel every month so I don't think that's my issue
RCW
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Ouch, my bad. My apologies -- - I was way off with that one.....
Obviously not familiar with RTV's.
I hate to give bad advice, and that was a good example.
You say it smells "rich" while running.... is the smell in the exhaust, or possibly a leak somewhere else?
it smelled rich out of the exhaust but with its not poor running condition it no longer smells rich
I pulled the hose off the pump outlet (top of the tank) and tee'd my fuel pressure test kit gauge into it with hose clamps.
So backfiring out exhaust could be air (blocked screens, filters), lack of ignition, or it could be a valve lash or build up issue. With EFIs I start with the easy stuff:
- Change/Gap plugs
- Test the fuel pressure
- clean the air filters
- Spark plug tester make sure I'm getting good spark
- and compression check them.
- and and new gas
Somewhere in there is usually an indication of where the problem is coming from.
testing spark is a bit hard with coil on plug (especially this coil) and the air filter is clean but the throttle body just got cleaned as it was covered in dirt and I had to do some extra repairs to the plastic intake body
From the manual:
Are you getting any codes?
Only thing on this list that wasnt mentioned already is the fuel filter. I dont know if you have an external filter or just the sock on the bottom of the pump. I dont see an inline in the parts diagram.
Tests I mentioned earlier helps narrow this down. You should be able to get an inline spark tester that works fine with that coil. They are like $5 at harbor freight.
Your air intake repair wouldnt have caused your issue, by chance? I dont know what you repaired.
Are you getting any codes?
Only thing on this list that wasnt mentioned already is the fuel filter. I dont know if you have an external filter or just the sock on the bottom of the pump. I dont see an inline in the parts diagram.
Tests I mentioned earlier helps narrow this down. You should be able to get an inline spark tester that works fine with that coil. They are like $5 at harbor freight.
Your air intake repair wouldnt have caused your issue, by chance? I dont know what you repaired.
repair was to fix damage from shipping that happened after it was running like garbage (couldn't actually get on the trailer by itself) but the intake before the injectors isn't silver anymore so that might be an issue but it was running like that since before the 60 hour mark (purchased by me) I mean it had more power but had mud in the Intake. btw what octane is this machine supposed to use?
Here's a link to your owners manual. Page 57 has the fluids...
Lubricants, Fuel And Coolant - Kubota SIDEKICK RTV-XG850 Operator's Manual [Page 57]
Kubota SIDEKICK RTV-XG850 Manual Online: Lubricants, Fuel And Coolant. LUBRICANTS, FUEL AND COOLANT No. Locations 1 Fuel 2 Coolant (with reserve tank) 3 Engine crankcase 4 Transmission case 5 Front axle case 6 Brake fluid (reservoir and lines) *1 Oil amount when the oil level is at the...
www.manualslib.com
North Idaho Wolfman
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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Have you done a compression test?
As it's really sounding like you've dusted the cylinders.
Any smoke?
As it's really sounding like you've dusted the cylinders.
Any smoke?
compression would be it being slow the whole time. it'll spin the tires off the line and up to 20 and then just fall on its face at 3500 rpm and it doesn't smoke at all. also starts pretty good right now
North Idaho Wolfman
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Staff member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
You need to do a cylinder compression test as that will answer quite a lot.
Is it equipped with a turbo?
Strong smell of gas and back firing makes me think one of the spark plugs isn't working and raw fuel in the exhaust. The engine will run like a BOS too on only 1 cylinder. No OEM turbo.