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Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
#7563664
07/24/19 08:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
tx501
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Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180 |
I have a gas Mule 4010 that has 800 hours. 799 of those hours, the machine has run as expected.
In March, I replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and spark plugs. It ran completely fine with regular use on the weekends.
Just recently, it has begun to lose power going uphills in High. We are in the hill country, and right now I have to put it in Low to get up a hill on the property with just me in it. In the past, it would go up the hill in High fully loaded with 4 people without an issue. You can also feel it lose power at full throttle if there is any resistance while driving (starting to go up a small incline). It starts, idles fine and accelerates normally on flat land. No backfiring or smoke.
What I can find online (though the info is scarce) suggests a possible valve adjustment. I checked the air filter underneath the back seat and noticed it seemed moist, sticky to the touch and there was possibly a small amount of oil on it. I ran the Mule without the air filter and still experienced the loss of power, so the filter wasn't the issue.
Curious, has anyone experienced the same symptoms and performed a valve adjustment that corrected the issue?
It seems like an engine/fuel delivery issue. Is there anything I should be checking on the transmission to rule that out?
Thanks for any input.
Last edited by tx501; 07/24/19 09:07 PM.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7563678
07/24/19 09:21 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,578
Gumbeaux
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,578 |
Do the RPMs stay high and it just slows down or do the RPMs drop?
If RPMs stay up, it's probably a worn belt.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: Gumbeaux]
#7563679
07/24/19 09:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
tx501
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180 |
The RPMs drop. Almost like it's starving for gas or if you were to have the choke fully open and hit the gas after it's warmed up.
Last edited by tx501; 07/24/19 09:24 PM.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7563692
07/24/19 09:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,569
TexFlip
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,569 |
It's the fuel filter. Mine did it and I replaced the pump. Started doing it a few months later and I ran some Seafoam through it and it cleared.
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: TexFlip]
#7563709
07/24/19 09:55 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
tx501
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180 |
Thanks for the advice. I will try swapping out filters or running Seafoam this weekend and hopefully that'll clear it up.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7563711
07/24/19 10:03 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,578
Gumbeaux
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,578 |
That would certainly be the cheapest and easiest way to start. I've found that Seafoam cures a lot of ills. I put it in my 5 gallon cans when I fill them up.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7563714
07/24/19 10:13 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
tx501
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
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I agree. I know the new fuel pump was pumping enough gas since I could see it in the filter. I did replace with a cheapy, off-brand $30 pump with a filter instead of paying Kawasaki +$200 for their OEM part. Makes sense that the cheap cloth filter could have dissolved or broken apart and caused a blockage.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7564044
07/25/19 12:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,569
TexFlip
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 15,569 |
I agree. I know the new fuel pump was pumping enough gas since I could see it in the filter. I did replace with a cheapy, off-brand $30 pump with a filter instead of paying Kawasaki +$200 for their OEM part. Makes sense that the cheap cloth filter could have dissolved or broken apart and caused a blockage. That's the same one I bought.
Just to make sure that it is done thoroughly, I go both ways.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7564207
07/25/19 04:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
You remember there are two air filters on a mule right? This was usually my problem with same symptoms.
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7580413
08/15/19 03:44 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 533
Lou270
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 533 |
I had similar issue and if I remember it was because coil was bad and not firing all cylinders
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7585695
08/21/19 07:05 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180
tx501
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 180 |
Found and fixed the issue. Rubber brace that holds the fuel pump was cut and falling off the mount. Pump would fall out of its regular position when driving and that was causing the fuel delivery issue on hills. Rigged it so the pump wouldn't move and ran seafoam for the weekend. Running good as new for now.
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Re: Kawasaki Mule 4010 loss of power
[Re: tx501]
#7586373
08/22/19 02:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,038
Vern1
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,038 |
I heard from a little birdy who just had his 2017 PRO flashed that Kawasaki has a new ECM flash for fuel injected gas Mules in hot climates. This was after he had constant issues and multiple trips to shop with fuel injection problems in warmer temperatures.
The tech at Kawasaki shop told him all the initial testing took place up North in much cooler temperatures and that fuel curve doesn't work so well for Texas heat. They also said it is worse for people that use their Mules for more than 10-15 minutes at a time where the motor has a chance to really warm up.
Cheers, Vern1 Texans since The Old 300 in 1824 NRA Lifetime Member
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