LS 170 goes crazy

[Mountain Man]

Yesterday I was pulling over an oak tree (via 90' of chain) with my LS 170. I had the revs up high so that I could pull the tree in the desired direction rather than toward a fence where it was heavily leaning. As I began pulling in reverse, my skid steer went crazy. A puff of smoke came from the engine area, and my joy sticks reversed, ie reverse became forward and forward became reverse. In either direction the machine would only go about two feet then stop. Two red lights on the control panel were lit and blinking, each showing a picture of a temp gauge. The hydraulics were dead. With my machine immovable in the middle of the street, I called my New Holland dealer and the head mechanic had no idea what the problem could be. Returning to the machine, I restarted it and everything was back to normal! The mechanic again stated he had no idea what happened. Anyone want to speculate? Thanks

 

[Mike10]

I looked at the calendar to make sure it was not April 1. For the hydros to move opposite the engine would have to be running backwards, but I do not see how that would happen. This would also explain why you had no hydraulics. since the hydros are more or less a closed loop system, you can have some movement without being supplied with charge pressure. I can see the coolant temp light coming on because the system monitors if a signal is coming from the alternator to make sure the fan belt is not broke. No signal and the alarm will sound and light the light. By the way, is there a bar close to you. LOL.

 

[antfarmer2]

I looked at the calendar to make sure it was not April 1. For the hydros to move opposite the engine would have to be running backwards, but I do not see how that would happen. This would also explain why you had no hydraulics. since the hydros are more or less a closed loop system, you can have some movement without being supplied with charge pressure. I can see the coolant temp light coming on because the system monitors if a signal is coming from the alternator to make sure the fan belt is not broke. No signal and the alarm will sound and light the light. By the way, is there a bar close to you. LOL.

I had somethings like that happen in Tennessee mountains I think they called it moonshine

 

[jerry]

I had somethings like that happen in Tennessee mountains I think they called it moonshine

Maybe the wheels slipped and the weight of the 90 foot chain and the spring of the tree pulled you forward 2 feet even though you were reversing. I can easily see that happening if you had tension on the tree and spun the tires.

 

[DBoftheyear]

Maybe the wheels slipped and the weight of the 90 foot chain and the spring of the tree pulled you forward 2 feet even though you were reversing. I can easily see that happening if you had tension on the tree and spun the tires.

Psychedelic 170. That could freak the brain out, like seeing an earthquake twist roads and bridges. Some things shouldnt be.

 

[Mountain Man]

Psychedelic 170. That could freak the brain out, like seeing an earthquake twist roads and bridges. Some things shouldnt be.

I used my skid steer again today for several hours and it ran fine. Hmmm. The NH mechanic also said it sounded like the engine ran backwards, but then commented that that wasn't possible. The forward/reverse mix up was happening even after we removed the chain and were just trying to get out of the road. But once we shut off the machine, it seemed to reboot much like a computer would when you do a shut down/restart.

 

[Mikefromcny]

I used my skid steer again today for several hours and it ran fine. Hmmm. The NH mechanic also said it sounded like the engine ran backwards, but then commented that that wasn't possible. The forward/reverse mix up was happening even after we removed the chain and were just trying to get out of the road. But once we shut off the machine, it seemed to reboot much like a computer would when you do a shut down/restart.

My Kubota B7100 ran backwards once. The battery was weak and I pulled the decompressor lever to build momentum as the engine was cranking over. I let the knob go and she started, but sounded weird. The air cleaner was smoking! it was pulling air through the muffler. Oddest thing I saw in awhile. I let it run for a few seconds until I noticed the oil light. Must be the oil pump was spinning backwards and not building pressure. Ive put at least a 100 hours on since and no issues.

 

[Tazza]

My Kubota B7100 ran backwards once. The battery was weak and I pulled the decompressor lever to build momentum as the engine was cranking over. I let the knob go and she started, but sounded weird. The air cleaner was smoking! it was pulling air through the muffler. Oddest thing I saw in awhile. I let it run for a few seconds until I noticed the oil light. Must be the oil pump was spinning backwards and not building pressure. Ive put at least a 100 hours on since and no issues.

Sounds like the machine was posessed.
Never seen an engine run backwards, but i know it can happen.
Hopefully it won't happen again, not sure how it could reverse all functions like that, very odd.