Troy-Bilt OEM-390-679 User Manual

Operator’s Manual

SNOW THROWER

TRACK

IMPORTANT:
Read safety rules
and instructions
carefully.

TROY-BILT , P.O. BOX 1386, 97 KENT AVE., KITCHENER, ON N2G 4J1

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

772C0767
(5/2005)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Customer Support 2
Important Safe Operation Practices 3
Assembly 5
Knowing Your Snow Thrower 6
Operating Your Snow Thrower 8
Adjustments 11

Content Page

Maintenance 13
Servicing 14
Off-Season Storage 17
Troubleshooting 18
Warranty 19
Illustrated Parts List 20

FINDING MODEL NUMBER

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

Before you start assembling your new snow thrower, please locate the model plate on the
equipment and copy the information from it in the space provided below. The information on the
model plate is very important if you need help from our Customer Support Department or an
authorized dealer or manufacturer’s website.

• You can locate the model number by standing behind the unit in the operating position and looking down at
the dash panel. A sample model plate is explained below. For future reference, please copy the model
number and the serial number of the equipment in the space below.

Model Number
Numéro de modèle

XXX-XXXXXX

Serial Number
Numéro de série

XXXXXXXXXXX

TROYBILT - CANADA
KITCHENER, ON N2G 4J1

Copy the model number here:

Copy the serial number here:

ENGINE INFORMATION

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.

CALLING CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Please do NOT return the unit to the retailer from which 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, please call a Customer Support Representative: 1-800-668-1238

Please have your unit’s model number and serial number ready when you call. See previous section to
locate this information. You will be asked to enter the serial number in order to process your call.

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.

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 14 years old to operate this
machine. Children 14 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. Thrown objects can cause serious personal injury. Plan
your snow throwing pattern to avoid discharge of material
toward roads, bystanders and the like.

6. 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.

7. Exercise caution to avoid slipping or falling, especially
when operating in reverse.

Preparation

1. Thoroughly inspect the area where the equipment is to
be used. Remove all door mats, newspapers, sleds,
boards, wires and other foreign objects which could be
tripped over or thrown by the auger/impeller.

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

3. Do not operate without wearing adequate winter outer
garments. Do not wear jewelry, long scarves or other
loose clothing which could become entangled in moving
parts. Wear footwear which will improve footing on
slippery surfaces.

4. Use a grounded extension cord and receptacle for all
units with electric start engines.

5. Adjust collector housing height to clear gravel or crushed
rock surfaces.

6. Disengage the control handle before starting the engine.

7. Never attempt to make any adjustments while engine is
running, except where specifically recommended in the
operator’s manual.

8. Let engine and machine adjust to outdoor temperature
before starting to clear snow.

9. 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

½ 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, space heater, clothes

dryer etc.).
j. Allow machine to cool at least 5 minutes before

storing.

Operation

1. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts, in the auger
housing or discharge chute. Contact with the rotating
parts can amputate hands and feet.

2. The auger control handle is a safety device. Never
bypass its operation. Doing so, makes the machine
unsafe and may cause personal injury.

3. The control handle must operate easily in both directions
and automatically return to the disengaged position when
released.

4. Never operate with a missing or damaged discharge
chute. Keep all safety devices in place and working.

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

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

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

8. Exercise extreme caution when operating on or crossing
gravel surfaces. Stay alert for hidden hazards or traffic.

3

9. Exercise caution when changing direction and while
operating on slopes.

10. Plan your snow throwing pattern to avoid discharge
towards windows, walls, cars etc. To avoid property
damage or personal injury caused by a ricochet.

11. Never direct discharge at children, bystanders and pets
or allow anyone in front of the machine.

12. Do not overload machine capacity by attempting to clear
snow at too fast of a rate.

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

14. Disengage power to the auger/impeller when
transporting or not in use.

15. Never operate machine at high transport speeds on
slippery surfaces. Look down and behind and use care
when in reverse.

16. If the machine should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine, disconnect the spark plug and ground it against
the engine. Inspect thoroughly for damage. Repair any
damage before starting and operating.

17. Disengage the control handle and stop engine before you
leave the operating position (behind the handles). Wait
until the auger comes to a complete stop before
unclogging the discharge chute, making any
adjustments, or inspections.

18. Never put your hand in the discharge or collector
openings. Always use a clearing tool to unclog the
discharge opening.

19. Use only attachments and accessories approved by the
manufacturer. Carefully read, understand and follow the
instructions supplied with the approved accessories or
attachments.

20. If situations occur which are not covered in this manual,
use care and good judgment. Call customer assistance
for the name of your nearest servicing dealer.

DANGER

DANGER

HANDS AND FINGERS.

Maintenance And Storage

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

2. Disengage the control handle and stop engine. Wait until
the auger/impeller come to a complete stop. Disconnect
the spark plug wire and ground against the engine to
prevent unintended starting before cleaning, repairing, or
inspecting.

3. 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.

4. Do not change the engine governor setting or over-speed
the engine. The governor controls the maximum safe
operating speed of the engine.

5. Snow thrower shave plates and skid shoes are subject to
wear and damage. For your safety protection, frequently
check all components and replace with original
equipment manufacturer’s (O.E.M.) parts only. “Use of
parts which do not meet the original equipment
specifications may lead to improper performance and
compromise safety!”

6. Check controls periodically to verify they engage and
disengage properly and adjust, if necessary. Refer to the
adjustment section in this operator’s manual for
instructions.

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

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

9. Prior to storing, run machine a few minutes to clear snow
from machine and prevent freeze up of auger/impeller.

10. 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.

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

Your Responsibility:

• Restrict the use of this power machine to persons who
read, understand and follow the warnings and
instructions in this manual and on the machine.

Do not modify engine

To avoid serious injury or death, do not modify engine in any
way. Tampering with the governor setting can lead to a
runaway engine and cause it to operate at unsafe speeds.
Never tamper with factory setting of engine governor.

Notice regarding Emissions

Engines which are certified to comply with California and
federal EPA emission regulations for SORE (Small Off Road
Equipment) are certified to operate on regular unleaded
gasoline, and may include the following emission control
systems: Engine Modification (EM) and Three Way Catalyst
(TWC) if so equipped.

STOP ENGINE AND AUGER BEFORE USING

CLEAN-OUT TOOL OR STICK.

NEVER PUT HAND IN CHUTE. CAN

AMPUTATE

ARRÊTEZ LE MOTEUR ET LA TARIÈRE AVANT

D'UTILISER L'OUTIL DE DÉGAGEMENT

NE PLACEZ JAMAIS VOS MAINS DANS LA

DE LA GOULOTTE OU UN BÂTON.

GOULOTTE. LES PIÈCES EN MOUVEMENT

PEUVENT AMPUTER MAINS ET DOIGTS.

4

SECTION 2: ASSEMBLING YOUR SNOW THROWER

Loose Parts

The augers are secured to the auger shaft with two
shear pins and bow tie cotter pins. If you hit a foreign
object or ice jam, the snow thrower is designed so that
the pins may shear. Two replacement shear pins and
cotter pins are provided for your convenience. Store in
a safe place until needed. See Figure 1.

Bow Tie

Cotter Pins

Shear Pins

Figure 1

IMPORTANT:

standard hex pins. Any damage to the auger gearbox or
other components from using standard pins will not be
covered by your snow thrower’s warranty.

NEVER replace the auger shear pins with

Items Required For Assembly

1. Pair of pliers

2. Engine oil

3. Fresh gasoline

NOTE: If the connector is not properly assembled, the
shift rod will pivot and you will not be able to change
speeds or direction of movement.

Upper

Carriage

Bolt

Cupped
Washer

Wing

Nut

Carriage Bolt

Lower Chute Crank

Chute
Rod

Upper
Chute Crank
Bracket

Hairpin Clip

Before Assembly

• Disconnect spark plug wire and ground it against
the engine to prevent unintended starting.

NOTE: Reference to the right hand or left hand side of
machine are observed from the operating position.

Assembling Handle

For shipping purposes, the upper handle is secured
loosely to the lower handle with four wing nuts.

• Remove the lower plastic wing nut, cupped washer
and carriage bolt from each side of the lower
handle. See Figure 2.

• Raise the upper handle assembly until it locks over
the lower handle.

• Look at the lower rear of the snow thrower frame to
be sure all the cables are aligned with the cable
roller guides. Make sure the spring (found at the
end of each cable) is attached to its actuator
bracket.

• Secure the upper handle and lower handle with the
two plastic wing nuts, cupped washers and carriage
bolts previously removed. See Figure 2.

• Tighten the two wing nuts already in place on the
upper holes and secure the handles firmly.

• Slide the shift rod connector down over the end of
the lower shift rod. Tap the connector until it locks
over the lower shift rod. See Figure 2.

Figure 2

Attaching Chute Directional Control

• Remove the hairpin clip from the upper chute rod
and slide the upper chute rod through the upper
chute rod bracket and into the lower chute rod. A
pair of pliers may help in this job.

• Align the two holes on both chute rods and insert
the hairpin clip removed earlier, through these
holes. See Figure 2.

• With the flange locknuts loosened on the lower
chute crank bracket (see Figure 3) adjust the
bracket so that the spiral on the chute crank fully
engages the teeth on the chute assembly. Tighten
the nuts on the lower chute crank bracket securely.

Chute Directional
Control

Chute

Assembly

Lower Chute
Crank

Bracket

Figure 3

Flange Locknuts

5

• If not already attached, slip the cables that run from
the handle panel to the chute assembly into the
cable guide located on top of the engine. See
Figure 4.

• If not already attached, unwrap the headlight wire
which is attached to the headlight, beneath the
handle panel. Wind the headlight wire around the
lower right handle until excess slack is removed.
See Figure 4.

Cables

Discharge
Chute

Cable
Guide

Figure 4

• Plug the wire from the headlight into the alternator
lead coming from the right side of the engine
underneath the fuel tank.

Alternator Lead

Alternator
Lead

Lamp Wire

NOTE:

Tracks are omitted from illustration for clarity.

Figure 5

Clean-Out Tool

• This tool, along with the electric cord, is fastened
with a cable tie to the rear of the auger housing for
shipping purposes. Cut the cable tie and remove
the electric cord before operating the snow thrower.

SECTION 3: KNOW YOUR SNOWTHROWER

Drive Control /
Auger Control Lock

Heated Handles
Switch†

Headlight†

Chute
Assembly

Clean-Out
Too l

Auger

Chute Directional
Control

Skid Shoe

Shift Lever

Chute Tilt
Control

Auger Drive Control

Track Steering
Control

† Optional

Figure 6

Heated Grip†

Primer

Choke

Safety
Ignition Key

Throttle
Control

Electric
Starter
Button

Switch
Box

Recoil
Starter
Handle

Closed

Open

Fuel Shut-Off Valve

*If Equipped

WARNING: Read, understand, and follow

all instructions and warnings on the machine
and in this manual before operating.

Drive Control / Auger Control Lock

The drive control is located on the right handle.
Squeeze the drive control to engage the wheel drive.
Release to stop. See Figure 6.

6