Troy-Bilt 24A-070F766 User Manual

Operator’s Manual

Self Propelled

Yard Vacuum

Chipper/Shredder/

Vacuum/Hose

Model Number

24A-070F766

IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Warning: This unit is equipped with an internal combustion engine and should not be used on or near any unimproved forest-

covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land unless the engine’s exhaust system is equipped with a spark arrester meeting
applicable local or state laws (if any). If a spark arrester is used, it should be maintained in effective working order by the operator.
In the State of California the above is required by law (Section 4442 of the California Public Resources Code). Other states may have
similar laws. Federal laws apply on federal lands. A spark arrester for the muffler is available through your nearest engine authorized
service dealer or contact the service department, P.O. Box 361131 Cleveland, Ohio 44136-0019.

TROY-BILT LLC P.O. BOX 361131 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44136-0019

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

FORM NO.

769-01295.fm

(8/04)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Important Safe Operation Practices 3
Assembling Your Yard Vacuum 5
Know Your Yard Vacuum 8
Operating Your Yard Vacuum 9

Content Page

Servicing Your Yard Vacuum 12
Trouble Shooting 15
Illustrated Parts List 16
Warranty 20

Maintaining Your Yard Vacuum 11

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

This Operator’s Manual is an important part of your new Yard Vacuum. It will help you assemble, prepare
and maintain the unit for best performance. Please read and understand what it says.

Before you start assembling your new equipment, please locate the model plate on the
equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. A sample model plate is
also given below. You can locate the model plate by looking down at the rear of the Yard
Vacuum. This information will be necessary to use the manufacturer’s
web site and/or help from the Customer Support Department or an authorized service dealer.

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

www.troybilt.com

TROY-BILT LLC
P. O. BOX

361131
CLEVELAND, OH 44136
330-558-7220
1-800-520-5520

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from where it was purchased, without first contacting Customer Support.

If you have difficulty assembling this product or have any questions regarding the controls, operation or
maintenance of this unit, you can seek help from the experts. Choose from the options below:

Visit troybilt.com for many useful suggestions. Click on Customer Support button and you will
get the four options reproduced here. Click on the appropriate button and help is immediately
available.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

If you prefer to reach a Customer Support Representative, please call 1-800-520-5520.

The answer you are
looking for could be just
a mouse click away!

Engine

Manual

The engine manufacturer is responsible for all engine-related issues with regards to
performance, power-rating, specifications, warranty and service. Please refer to the engine
manufacturer’s Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, packed separately with your unit, for more
information.

2

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT SAFE OPERATION PRACTICES

WARNING: This symbol points out important safety instructions which, if not followed, could

endanger the personal safety and/or property of yourself and others. Read and follow all instructions in
this manual before attempting to operate this machine. Failure to comply with these instructions may
result in personal injury. When you see this symbol - heed its warning.

WARNING: Engine Exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain vehicle components contain or

emit chemicals known to State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.

DANGER: This machine was built to be operated according to the rules for safe operation in this

manual. As with any type of power equipment, carelessness or error on the part of the operator can
result in serious injury. This machine is capable of amputating hands and feet and throwing objects.
Failure to observe the following safety instructions could result in serious injury or death.

TRAINING

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the
machine and in the manual(s) before attempting to
assemble and operate. Keep this manual in a safe
place for future and regular reference and for
ordering replacement parts.

2. Be familiar with all controls and their proper
operation. Know how to stop the machine and
disengage them quickly.

3. Never allow children under 16 years old to operate
this machine. Children 16 years old and over
should read and understand the operation
instructions and safety rules in this manual and
should be trained and supervised by a parent.

4. Never allow adults to operate this machine without
proper instruction.

5. Keep bystanders, helpers, pets, and children at
least 75 feet from the machine while it is in
operation. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

6. Never run an engine indoors or in a poorly
ventilated area. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide, an odorless and deadly gas.

7. Do not put hands and feet near rotating parts or in
the feeding chambers and discharge opening.
Contact with the rotating impeller can amputate
fingers, hands, and feet.

8. Never attempt to unclog either the feed intake or
discharge opening, remove or empty vacuum bag,
or inspect and repair the machine while the engine
is running. Shut the engine off and wait until all
moving parts have come to a complete stop.
Disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it
against the engine.

PREPARATION

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment
is to be used. Remove all rocks, bottles, cans, or
other foreign objects which could be picked up or
thrown and cause personal injury or damage to the
machine.

2. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles
during operation or while performing an adjustment
or repair, to protect eyes. Thrown objects which
ricochet can cause serious injury to the eyes.

3. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close­fitting slacks and shirts. Loose fitting clothes or
jewelry can be caught in movable parts. Never
operate this machine in bare feet or sandals. Wear
leather work gloves when feeding material in the
chipper chute.

4. Before starting, check all bolts and screws for
proper tightness to be sure the machine is in safe
working condition. Also, visually inspect machine
for any damage at frequent intervals.

5. Maintain or replace safety and instructions labels,
as necessary.

6. To avoid personal injury or property damage use
extreme care in handling gasoline. Gasoline is
extremely flammable and the vapors are explosive.
Serious personal injury can occur when gasoline is
spilled on yourself or your clothes which can ignite.
Wash your skin and change clothes immediately.

a. Use only an approved gasoline container.
b. Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and

other sources of ignition.
c. Never fuel machine indoors.
d. Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the

engine is hot or running.
e. Allow engine to cool at least two minutes

before refueling.
f. Never over fill fuel tank. Fill tank to no more

than 1/2 inch below bottom of filler neck to

provide space for fuel expansion.
g. Replace gasoline cap and tighten securely.
h. If gasoline is spilled, wipe it off the engine

and equipment. Move machine to another

area. Wait 5 minutes before starting the

engine.
i. Never store the machine or fuel container

inside where there is an open flame, spark,

or pilot light (e.g. furnace, water heater,

3

space heater, clothes dryer, etc.)

j. To reduce a fire hazard, keep machine free

of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.
Clean up oil or fuel spillage and remove any
fuel soaked debris.

k. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes

before storing.

OPERATION

1. Do not put hands and feet near rotating parts or in
the feeding chambers and discharge opening.
Contact with the rotating impeller can amputate
fingers, hands, and feet.

2. Before starting the machine, make sure the chipper
chute, feed intake, and cutting chamber are empty
and free of all debris.

3. Thoroughly inspect all material to be shredded and
remove any metal, rocks, bottles, cans, or other
foreign objects which could cause personal injury
or damage to the machine.

4. If the impeller strikes a foreign object or if your
machine should start making an unusual noise or
vibration, immediately shut the engine off. Allow the
impeller to come to a complete stop. Disconnect
the spark plug wire, ground it against the engine
and perform the following steps:

a. Inspect for damage.
b. Repair or replace any damaged parts.
c. Check for any loose parts and tighten to

assure continued safe operation.

5. Do not allow an accumulation of processed
material to build up in the discharge area. This can
prevent proper discharge and result in kickback of
material through the feed opening.

6. Do not attempt to shred or chip material larger than
specified on the machine or in this manual.
Personal injury or machine damage could result.

7. Never attempt to unclog either the feed intake or
discharge opening while the engine is running.
Shut the engine off, wait until all moving parts have
stopped, disconnect the spark plug wire and
ground it against the engine before clearing debris.

8. Never operate without vacuum bag and discharge
chute properly attached to the machine. Never
empty or change vacuum bag while the engine is
running. Zippered end of vacuum bag must be kept
closed at all times during operation.

9. Never operate without either the inlet nozzle or
optional hose attachment properly attached to the
machine. Never attempt to attach or change either
attachment while the engine is running.

10. Keep all guards, deflectors and safety devices in
place and operating properly.

11. Keep your face and body back and to the side of
the chipper chute while feeding material into the
machine to avoid accidental kickback injuries.

12. Never operate this machine without good visibility
or light. Always be sure of your footing and keep a
firm hold on the handles.

13. Do not operate this machine on a gravel surface.

14. Do not operate this machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.

15. Muffler and engine become hot and can cause a
burn. Do not touch.

16. Never pick up or carry machine while the engine is
running.

MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE

1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their
proper operation regularly.

2. Check bolts and screws for proper tightness at
frequent intervals to keep the machine in safe
working condition. Also, visually inspect machine
for any damage and repair, if needed.

3. Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, stop the
engine and make certain the impeller and all
moving parts have stopped. Disconnect the spark
plug wire and ground it against the engine to
prevent unintended starting.

4. Do not change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine. The governor controls the
maximum safe operating speed of the engine.

5. Maintain or replace safety and instruction labels, as
necessary.

6. Follow this manual for safe loading, unloading,
transporting, and storage of this machine.

7. Never store the machine or fuel container inside
where there is an open flame, spark or pilot light
such as a water heater, furnace, clothes dryer, etc.

8. Always refer to the operator’s manual for proper
instructions on off-season storage.

9. If the fuel tank has to be drained, do this outdoors.

10. Observe proper disposal laws and regulations for
gas, oil, etc. to protect the environment.

WARNING: YOUR RESPONSIBILITY - the
use of this power machine to persons who
read, understand and follow the warnings
and instructions in this manual and on the
machine.

NOTE: Not all safety labels may apply to your Yard

Vacuum.

4

SECTION 2: ASSEMBLING YOUR YARD VACUUM

IMPORTANT:

in the engine. Be certain to service engine with gasoline
and oil as instructed in the separate engine manual
before operating your machine.

NOTE: Reference to right or left hand side of the Yard
Vacuum is observed from the operating position.

This Yard Vacuum has been completely assembled at
the factory, except for the handle, bag, and blower
chute. These parts are shipped loose in the carton. A
pair of safety glasses, a bottle of engine oil, and the
operator’s manual are also included in the carton. See
Figure 1.

This unit is shipped without gasoline or oil

Opening Carton

• Cut each corner of the carton vertically from top to
bottom.

• Remove all loose parts.

• Remove loose packing material.

Removing Unit From Carton

• Lift unit from the rear to detach it from underlying
carton material and roll unit out of carton.

• Check carton thoroughly for any other loose parts.

NOTE: Make sure not to crimp cables while removing
loose parts or the entire unit from the carton.

Loose Parts In Carton (See Figure 1)

• Handle Assembly

•Bag

• Blower Chute

•Hose Assembly

• Safety Glasses

• A Bottle of Engine Oil (may be located in bag)

• Operator’s Manual

Figure 1

Disconnecting Spark Plug Wire

Before proceeding with assembly of your new Yard
Vacuum, disconnect the spark plug wire from the
spark plug and ground onto the retaining post on the
engine. This will prevent accidental starting of the
engine. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

5