Crossbones did not show up on screen so didnt think it was differential lock and people said 22 mph speed limiter kicked in and mine would only do 17 1/2 . Upon closer inspection and reading the manual i noticed to disengage differential lock it must be pressed in not popped out to disengage like 4 wheel drove. I assumed(stoopid me) that both would need to be out to be disengaged not one in and one out. Anyhow make a long story short, pushed locking differential button down and glory, hallelujah, my life is complete. Having a ball in the snow and can go as fast as I want(still braking in the new belt). Thanks for all the help and suggestions
soo  fyi   for any machine not going over 17 1/2 mph check your differential lock button even if the crossbones dont show up in your screen.

That is kind of what I was thinking that if my seat belt wire had somehow gotten pulled out and allowed for the circuit to complete thus causing the limiter to engage you would see it on the display in the dash. When i start up it briefly shows the seat belt and then disappears and everything is back to normal. No difloc or reverse lights on everything normal.No codes of any sort. I  Will pull some plastics tonight and check if somehow seatbelt did have some jumper wire get pulled. Very confused on this one
rpm is totally not limited until 18mph. Can spin tires with ease until 18mph then no rpm and serious misfire until back to 16 then all good up to 18. If diff lock was stuck on wouldnt that also show up on dash?
does dif lock have a speed limiter built in also?

Hey thanks for the info. That makes sense if the jumper got pulled loose and completed the circuit for the limiter. I  will pull the drivers seat . Do you know how many plastics need to get pulled to get to the bottom of the seat belt where the connection would be? I didnt have much time and looked real quick. Looks like the drivers side rear-the center console rear and the center console?

Hey all I am somewhat new to side by siding but went earlier this year and got hooked while driving someone elses machine. i decided to buy my own but didnt want to spend an arm and a leg. i loved the look of cf motos and took some of the bad publicity with a grain of salt. I bought a pretty  decked out 2018 cfmoto zforce 1000 with only 2900 miles .i have been enjoying it a lot. Took it for a nice trip to a great park in Nebraska and it climbed hills like a mountain goat and kept up or passed up almost anything else.I then did the stoopid thing and accepted a dare to go through a mud hole with water up to the doors. There was already a can am stuck right next to me but I thought what the heck. I was told to put in high 4 wheel going in . I aaaaaalllllmost got through but too steep on the front side to get any grip.THATS when I did the stoopider thing of rocking back and forth without shifting back in to low. By now most of you have guessed I smelled rubber. After we all got  winched out my zforce ran ok but would not go over 18mph . i since then washed everything off and put a new gates belt on.The primary clutch sheave had a little build up of rubber but cleaned up well.Now everything working great up to 17mph . Starts great,runs great ,good power(I am breaking in new belt so not pushing too hard) I can go 17mph all day no problem. The second it gets to 18 total shutdown until under 18. does it in high and low exactly at 18mph. I have aftermarket 4 point harness so i dont think seat belt ,parking brake is off,no codes on dash,runs great so I dont think plugs,I cleaned air filter (not really dirty). Have not messed with ecu  but I think it is cutting out spark. I have read about a 18mph speed limiter can anyone share some light on where that is and how to check. I have been amazed on how helpful you guys have been when someone asks questions hopefully we can figure this thing out.Thank you in advance.