by Ken Task.
Check config of autobackups in Moodle UI to see modification setting. That setting determines if a course is included in the autobackups if not modified in the last X days. Might tell it to save +1 backup ... ie setting keep 2 might increase that by 1 and set to 3.
ssh into the server and cd to the moodlecode/admin/cli/ directory and execute:
php automated_backups.php
After the run, check your 'other directory' to see if backup did indeed complete (ie, there is an .mbz file for the course).
'spirit of sharing', Ken