Engine Spun Backwards?

I was using my 860 yesterday around the house and and something weird happened. When I shut the key off, it sounded like the engine ran backwards for a second or two. Made an loud disconcerting sound when it did.

After that it wouldn't start. Wouldn't even fire. Occasionally it would backfire out the carb and gas was visibly running out of the carb. I let it sit for a couple hours and tried again and it was the same.

Haven't tried it again today.

I just recently got this tractor running again after it had sat for many years. I have probably only had it running 20-30 minutes total since I got it running and had been running it close to an hour when I shut it off.

I guess my question is this, has anyone ever heard of a tractor running backwards and can that damage something that will render the engine unstartable?

I had been starting right up.
 
(quoted from post at 09:04:04 04/29/22) I was using my 860 yesterday around the house and and something weird happened. When I shut the key off, it sounded like the engine ran backwards for a second or two. Made an loud disconcerting sound when it did.

After that it wouldn't start. Wouldn't even fire. Occasionally it would backfire out the carb and gas was visibly running out of the carb. I let it sit for a couple hours and tried again and it was the same.

Haven't tried it again today.

I just recently got this tractor running again after it had sat for many years. I have probably only had it running 20-30 minutes total since I got it running and had been running it close to an hour when I shut it off.

I guess my question is this, has anyone ever heard of a tractor running backwards and can that damage something that will render the engine unstartable?

I had been starting right up.
have experienced the "run backwards" event a number of times, on various engines. Once it kept up so long that I put it in gear, brake on, clutch out in order to stop it. They always were fine afterwards.
 

Well, I wouldn't say the sound it made was like metal being sheared or cam shafts breaking but the timing gear thing would explain why it won't start again.

If it doesn't start again when I get home tonight I guess I'll have to tow it to the shop and start disassembling.
 
(quoted from post at 07:01:22 04/29/22)
(quoted from post at 09:04:04 04/29/22) I was using my 860 yesterday around the house and and something weird happened. When I shut the key off, it sounded like the engine ran backwards for a second or two. Made an loud disconcerting sound when it did.

After that it wouldn't start. Wouldn't even fire. Occasionally it would backfire out the carb and gas was visibly running out of the carb. I let it sit for a couple hours and tried again and it was the same.

Haven't tried it again today.

I just recently got this tractor running again after it had sat for many years. I have probably only had it running 20-30 minutes total since I got it running and had been running it close to an hour when I shut it off.

I guess my question is this, has anyone ever heard of a tractor running backwards and can that damage something that will render the engine unstartable?

I had been starting right up.
have experienced the "run backwards" event a number of times, on various engines. Once it kept up so long that I put it in gear, brake on, clutch out in order to stop it. They always were fine afterwards.

Hopefully it will start right back up when I try it again. I'm not hopeful thought. It seemed like something had definitely been affected. Seemed like the timing all the sudden was completely off.
 
(quoted from post at 07:01:22 04/29/22)
(quoted from post at 09:04:04 04/29/22) I was using my 860 yesterday around the house and and something weird happened. When I shut the key off, it sounded like the engine ran backwards for a second or two. Made an loud disconcerting sound when it did.

After that it wouldn't start. Wouldn't even fire. Occasionally it would backfire out the carb and gas was visibly running out of the carb. I let it sit for a couple hours and tried again and it was the same.

Haven't tried it again today.

I just recently got this tractor running again after it had sat for many years. I have probably only had it running 20-30 minutes total since I got it running and had been running it close to an hour when I shut it off.

I guess my question is this, has anyone ever heard of a tractor running backwards and can that damage something that will render the engine unstartable?

I had been starting right up.
have experienced the "run backwards" event a number of times, on various engines. Once it kept up so long that I put it in gear, brake on, clutch out in order to stop it. They always were fine afterwards.

Hopefully it will start right back up when I try it again. I'm not hopeful thought. It seemed like something had definitely been affected. Seemed like the timing all the sudden was completely off.
 
(quoted from post at 07:01:22 04/29/22)
(quoted from post at 09:04:04 04/29/22) I was using my 860 yesterday around the house and and something weird happened. When I shut the key off, it sounded like the engine ran backwards for a second or two. Made an loud disconcerting sound when it did.

After that it wouldn't start. Wouldn't even fire. Occasionally it would backfire out the carb and gas was visibly running out of the carb. I let it sit for a couple hours and tried again and it was the same.

Haven't tried it again today.

I just recently got this tractor running again after it had sat for many years. I have probably only had it running 20-30 minutes total since I got it running and had been running it close to an hour when I shut it off.

I guess my question is this, has anyone ever heard of a tractor running backwards and can that damage something that will render the engine unstartable?

I had been starting right up.
have experienced the "run backwards" event a number of times, on various engines. Once it kept up so long that I put it in gear, brake on, clutch out in order to stop it. They always were fine afterwards.

Hopefully it will start right back up when I try it again. I'm not hopeful though. It seemed like something had definitely been affected. Seemed like the timing all the sudden was completely off.
 
Give it a try starting and see what happens. Don't take anything apart without doing some easy diagnosis. If it doesn't start I'd begin with a compression test to start with before jumping to conclusions.
 
(quoted from post at 10:48:38 04/29/22) Give it a try starting and see what happens. Don't take anything apart without doing some easy diagnosis. If it doesn't start I'd begin with a compression test to start with before jumping to conclusions.
es, at least check compression and look at distributor rotor position when #1 cylinder is at top dead center-compression stroke. These should confirm/deny timing gear problem.
 
Dieseling.

Not uncommon

Verify correct spark plugs, ignition timing, operation of centrifugal advance, and 450 RPM idle speed.

Stall with clutch if necessary.
 
The 601 did that a few times thru the years. The last time it broke the rotor. I pulled the points out and put a module in.
been 5 years and no problem since.
 
This was a chronic problem with the 3 cylinder gasoline Deeres. the factory fixed it with a solenoid controlled main jet valve on the bowl of the Marvel-Schembler. It would stuff the needle up tight to the jet orifice to shut off the fuel. I had a JD 1020 with one.
Next time just let the tractor cool down a minute or two at slow idle before turning off and then it should stop.
 
Thank you all for the responses.

I tried to start it yesterday and it did not try to fire at all. When I stopped cranking it, gas drizzled out of the carburetor for a few seconds.

I towed it back to the shop and will check the timing and compression before I do anything else.
 
Gas dripping out of the carb after failed attempt to start is normal in the updraft system on those tractors.
 

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