LS 180 keeps cutting off

[ironhead49]

We have a 2001 LS 180 skidsteer. Back in the fall it developed a hydraulic leak where a hose was rubbing against a support. We replaced the hose, but my mechanics put hydraulic fluid instead of regular oil in the system. We don't have an owners manual and they thought that's what should be used. Now our skidsteer starts fine but will only run about 30-40 seconds before shutting off. Start it again and it does the same thing. Red light that looks like a gear icon is lit in upper left corner of diagnostic lights and yellow stop light is lit on warning lights side. Could the hydraulic fluid change be an issue or something else? We run a mulch and stone business and need to get this fixed asap, since it's time to open for the season.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

That is you charge pressure or transmisssion warning light. It will cause a engine shutdown if the eic is told the pressure is too low.
This could be a result of a plugged hyd filter, a bad charge pressure sender, a poor wire conection between the sender and the eic, a bad charge pressure relief valve or a catostropic failure in the hydraulic pump.
If you look back one post I put a link to a NH ls 160/170 repair manual, it will tell you how the eic system works (common to all NH machines) and pehaps your 180 is somewhat simular mechaincally to the 170 and you can perform some tests on the system to trouble shoot the problem.
You may also find a manual for your 180 on www.tradebit.com
Ken

 

[ironhead49]

That is you charge pressure or transmisssion warning light. It will cause a engine shutdown if the eic is told the pressure is too low.
This could be a result of a plugged hyd filter, a bad charge pressure sender, a poor wire conection between the sender and the eic, a bad charge pressure relief valve or a catostropic failure in the hydraulic pump.
If you look back one post I put a link to a NH ls 160/170 repair manual, it will tell you how the eic system works (common to all NH machines) and pehaps your 180 is somewhat simular mechaincally to the 170 and you can perform some tests on the system to trouble shoot the problem.
You may also find a manual for your 180 on www.tradebit.com
Ken

Thanks for the reply. We are having heavy rains today so can't try any of the trouble shooting. One more thing though after it warms up this problem stops and the skid steer works great. Not sure if that bit of info will help in trouble shooting the problem. Thanks in Adnvance josh.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Thanks for the reply. We are having heavy rains today so can't try any of the trouble shooting. One more thing though after it warms up this problem stops and the skid steer works great. Not sure if that bit of info will help in trouble shooting the problem. Thanks in Adnvance josh.

Josh
Yes, if the problem goes away as it warms up that is classic symptoms for a restricted oil filter on the hydraulics.
Your machine "may" also have differential pressure switches that monitor the drop in pressure across the filter. One of these could be getting a weak spring and tripping the sensor too soon. Or it could be it is time for a new filter.
Since it started at the oil change, if just the oil is a heavier weight and it needs 2 to 5 minutes to circulate and warm up before it is thin enough to flow through the filter without causing a pressure drop. Will it stay running at a low idle or does the shut down still activate and kill the engine? Because the higher you try to idle it the more it will aggrivate the flow though the filter.
How cold is it where you are and what weight of hydraulic oil was used? If you park it indoors is it ok then?
My 853 used to do this. The light would stay off at idle when cold but as soon as you increased the engine rpm the light would come on. Slow it down and it was fine. Every minute it ran from startup the more you could increase the rpm and have the light stay off. After 5 mins it was normal. A lighter oil would have cured it to but I usually just warmed it up a couple mins then drove off slowly gradually increasing engine speed as I went. It did not see much winter use or I would have switched to a thinner oil.
Ken

 

[ironhead49]

Josh
Yes, if the problem goes away as it warms up that is classic symptoms for a restricted oil filter on the hydraulics.
Your machine "may" also have differential pressure switches that monitor the drop in pressure across the filter. One of these could be getting a weak spring and tripping the sensor too soon. Or it could be it is time for a new filter.
Since it started at the oil change, if just the oil is a heavier weight and it needs 2 to 5 minutes to circulate and warm up before it is thin enough to flow through the filter without causing a pressure drop. Will it stay running at a low idle or does the shut down still activate and kill the engine? Because the higher you try to idle it the more it will aggrivate the flow though the filter.
How cold is it where you are and what weight of hydraulic oil was used? If you park it indoors is it ok then?
My 853 used to do this. The light would stay off at idle when cold but as soon as you increased the engine rpm the light would come on. Slow it down and it was fine. Every minute it ran from startup the more you could increase the rpm and have the light stay off. After 5 mins it was normal. A lighter oil would have cured it to but I usually just warmed it up a couple mins then drove off slowly gradually increasing engine speed as I went. It did not see much winter use or I would have switched to a thinner oil.
Ken

Thanks again Ken. The filter is new we had an old one come off by it self and replaced it shortly before the line broke. I don't have the slightest idea what the weight of the hydrolic fluid the guys used was so I am going to guess that might be our problem right there. I can't find a drain for the hydrolic oil do you think if I just added a quart of sea foam or 5 w 20 that might thin it up enough or do you have any ideas on how to drain the res? Thanks again Josh.. PS life saver today.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Thanks again Ken. The filter is new we had an old one come off by it self and replaced it shortly before the line broke. I don't have the slightest idea what the weight of the hydrolic fluid the guys used was so I am going to guess that might be our problem right there. I can't find a drain for the hydrolic oil do you think if I just added a quart of sea foam or 5 w 20 that might thin it up enough or do you have any ideas on how to drain the res? Thanks again Josh.. PS life saver today.

Does it have aux hydraulics on the loader arm? Just pump the oil out through there until it BEGINS to spit air then refill with proper weight oil. Don't leave it running with low oil in the tank or you will ruin your pump and don't try to drive it.
Otherwise on my 160 they say to undo a hose clamp on the reservoir but that would make a huge mess.
If the oil was really heavy you may have to operate all functions some then repeat the pump out as the tank is likely only 50% of the system. You can save the oil you pump out as it should still be clean. Perhaps remove the filter again and check for filings, as a hint that something may have failed, but I'm betting on the it being just oil thickness at this point.
Ken

 

[ironhead49]

Does it have aux hydraulics on the loader arm? Just pump the oil out through there until it BEGINS to spit air then refill with proper weight oil. Don't leave it running with low oil in the tank or you will ruin your pump and don't try to drive it.
Otherwise on my 160 they say to undo a hose clamp on the reservoir but that would make a huge mess.
If the oil was really heavy you may have to operate all functions some then repeat the pump out as the tank is likely only 50% of the system. You can save the oil you pump out as it should still be clean. Perhaps remove the filter again and check for filings, as a hint that something may have failed, but I'm betting on the it being just oil thickness at this point.
Ken

will try. I found the old bucket of hydro oil and it was iso32 tw2 btw

 

[skidsteer.ca]

will try. I found the old bucket of hydro oil and it was iso32 tw2 btw

Thats really not all that heavy, unless its -20 where you are. 100 weight is like grease here in the winter months, but I believe 32 is supposed to be near 10/30 (what my 160 takes) motor oil in viscosity. What oil is recomended? or is it Special NH oil
Ken

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Thats really not all that heavy, unless its -20 where you are. 100 weight is like grease here in the winter months, but I believe 32 is supposed to be near 10/30 (what my 160 takes) motor oil in viscosity. What oil is recomended? or is it Special NH oil
Ken

Also if you look on the hydraulic filter lines or the filter head for sensors with wires on them, is there one or two there?
Ken

 

[ironhead49]

Also if you look on the hydraulic filter lines or the filter head for sensors with wires on them, is there one or two there?
Ken

ken this is josh again. This thing is driving me nutts. Would there be anyway to talk to you on the phone about it my email is [email protected] or [email protected] thanks again josh