Craftsman Yard Vacuum 24777011 User Manual

Operator’s Manual  
4.5 Horse Power  
YARD VACUUM  
Model No. 247.770110  
• Safety  
• Assembly  
• Operation  
• Maintenance  
• Parts  
CAUTION: Before using  
this product, read this  
manual and follow all  
Safety Rules and  
ES  
Operating Instructions.  
• Español  
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179, U.S.A.  
FORM NO. 770-10233J  
(9/04)  
Printed in U.S.A.  
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SAFETY  
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.  
2. Always wear safety glasses or safety goggles  
TRAINING  
during operation or while performing an  
adjustment or repair, to protect eyes. Thrown  
objects which ricochet can cause serious injury to  
the eyes.  
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. Wear sturdy, rough-soled work shoes and close-  
fitting 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.  
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.  
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 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.  
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.  
3
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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. To reduce a fire hazard, keep machine free  
of grass, leaves, or other debris build-up.  
Clean up oil fuel spillage and remove any fuel  
soaked debris.  
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.  
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.  
16. Never pick up or carry machine while the engine is  
running.  
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.  
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE  
1. Never tamper with safety devices. Check their  
proper operation regularly.  
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:  
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.  
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.  
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.  
4
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ASSEMBLY  
NOTE: Reference to right and left hand side of the  
Yard Vacuum is observed from the operating  
position. See Figure 1.  
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 and a 20-oz. bottle of engine  
oil are also included in the carton. See Figure 1.  
REMOVING UNIT FROM CARTON  
Cut the corners of the carton.  
Remove all loose parts.  
Remove packing material.  
Lift unit from the rear to discard packing material  
from under unit and roll unit out of carton.  
Check carton thoroughly for any other loose  
parts.  
LOOSE PARTS IN CARTON (See Figure 1)  
Handle Assembly  
Bag  
Blower Chute  
Safety Glasses (Not Shown)  
A 20-oz. Bottle of Engine Oil  
(may be located in bag)  
Operator’s Manual  
Blower  
Chute  
Upper  
Handle  
Rope  
Guide  
Wing  
Nut  
DISCONNECTING SPARK PLUG  
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.  
20-oz. Bottle  
of Engine Oil  
Wing  
Nuts  
Bag  
Retaining Post  
Lower  
Handle  
Spark  
Plug Wire  
Wing  
Nuts  
Figure 2  
Carriage  
Screw  
ATTACHING THE HANDLE  
Figure 1  
Unfold the upper handle until it aligns with lower  
handle. Make sure the rope guide is on the right  
side of upper handle. See Figure 1.  
IMPORTANT: This unit is shipped without gasoline or  
oil in the engine. After assembly, see OPERATION  
section of this manual for proper fuel and engine oil  
fill-up.  
5
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Grasp bag handle with one hand and slide  
locking rod on mounting bracket with other hand  
toward engine. Use the end of mounting bracket  
as leverage when sliding the locking rod.  
See Figure 4.  
Slip bag over the rim of the discharge opening  
and release locking rod to secure bag in place.  
Snap bag clip to the top of the lower handle.  
Place the lower straps on the bag over the top of  
lower handle, hooking them on the studs.  
Secure the two handles by tightening the upper  
wing nuts (carriage bolts must be seated properly  
into the handle).  
Remove the hairpin clips from the handle  
brackets and remove the carriage bolts and wing  
nuts from the lower handle. See Figure 3.  
Place the bottom holes in lower handle over the  
pins on handle brackets and secure with hairpin  
clips.  
Insert carriage bolts through upper hole in lower  
handle from the outside and secure with wing  
nuts.  
NOTE: The bag/chute switch button attached to the  
mounting bracket must be fully depressed by the tip  
of front tab on bag handle when securing the bag or  
engine will not start. See Figure 5.  
Wing Nuts  
ATTACHING THE BLOWER CHUTE  
NOTE: The bag must be removed before installing  
the blower chute.  
Carriage Bolt  
Hairpin Clip  
Grasp blower chute with one hand and slide  
locking rod on mounting bracket with other hand  
toward engine. Use the end of mounting bracket  
as leverage when sliding the locking rod.  
See Figure 5.  
Slip blower chute over rim of discharge opening  
and release locking rod to secure chute in  
place.  
Raise the nozzle height to the highest setting  
when using the blower chute. Refer to nozzle  
height adjustment in the ADJUSTMENT sec-  
tion.  
Figure 3  
Loosen the wing nut that secures the rope guide  
to the right side of upper handle.  
Pull the starter rope out of the engine slowly and  
slip the starter rope into the rope guide. Tighten  
the wing nut.  
NOTE: The bag/chute switch button attached to the  
mounting bracket must be fully depressed by the tip  
of front tab on the blower chute or engine will not  
start. See Figure 5.  
ATTACHING THE BAG  
Bag Handle  
Blower  
Chute  
Stud  
Straps  
Front  
Tab  
Locking  
Rod  
Safety  
Switch  
Button  
Front Tab  
Locking  
Rod  
Locking Rod  
Figure 5  
Stud  
Figure 4  
6
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OPERATION  
Know Your Yard Vacuum  
Read this operator’s manual and safety rules before operating your Yard Vacuum. Compare the illustrations  
below with your equipment to familiarize yourself with the location of various controls and adjustments. Save  
this manual for future reference.  
The operation of any Yard Vacuum can result in foreign objects being thrown into the eyes,  
which can result in severe eye damage. Always wear safety glasses, provided with the  
WEAR YOUR  
SAFETY GLASSES  
Yard Vacuum, for operating this equipment or while performing any adjustments or repairs on  
it.  
FORESIGHT IS BETTER  
THAN NO SIGHT  
Starter  
Blower Chute  
Handle  
Bag Handle  
Bag  
Throttle Control/  
Choke Lever  
Primer  
Spark Plug Wire  
Chipper  
Chute  
Nozzle  
Nozzle Height  
Adjustment Lever  
Figure 6  
Nozzle Height Adjustment Lever  
OPERATING CONTROLS (See Figure 6)  
Used to adjust the nozzle ground clearance ranging  
from 5/8" to 4 1/8".  
Chipper Chute  
Allows twigs and small branches up to 1 1/2" in  
diameter to be fed into the impeller for chipping.  
Throttle Control / Choke Lever  
This single lever controls the engine speed, stop  
function, and the choke of the carburetor. Through  
four separate positions on the lever from left to right,  
the operation is as follows:  
Nozzle  
Yard waste such as leaves and pine needles can be  
vacuumed up through the nozzle for shredding.  
Bag  
Stop  
Collects shredded material fed in through the chipper  
chute or vacuumed in through the nozzle.  
Choke  
Engine  
Off  
Slow/  
Idle  
Start/  
Run  
Blower Chute  
When attached to unit, the blower chute is used to  
blow or scatter yard waste such as leaves, pine  
needle, or small twigs across yard.  
Primer  
The primer is used to assist in cold starting an engine.  
Starter Handle  
Bag Handle  
Used to start the engine.  
Used to grasp bag in order to assist in attaching,  
removing, and emptying bag.  
Meets ANSI safety standards  
Craftsman Yard Vacuums conform to the safety standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  
7
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WARNING: Use extreme care when  
handling gasoline. Gasoline is extremely  
flammable and the vapors are explosive.  
Never fuel machine indoors or while the  
engine is hot or running. Extinguish  
cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other  
sources of ignition.  
GAS AND OIL FILL-UP  
Oil (one 20-oz. bottle shipped with unit)  
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with API  
service classification SF, SG, or SH. Select the oil’s  
SAE viscosity grade according to the expected  
operating temperature. Follow the chart below.  
32  
°
F
Warmer  
Colder  
Check the fuel level periodically to avoid running  
out of gasoline while operating the Yard Vacuum.  
If the unit runs out of gas as it is chipping, it may  
be necessary to unclog the unit before it can be  
restarted. Refer to SERVICE AND  
5W30  
SAE 30  
Oil Viscosity Chart  
ADJUSTMENT section.  
TO START ENGINE  
1. Attach spark plug wire and rubber boot to spark  
plug.  
NOTE: Although multi-viscosity oils (5W30, 10W30,  
etc.) improve starting in cold weather, they will result  
in increased oil consumption when used above 32°F.  
Check your engine oil level more frequently to avoid  
possible engine damage from running low on oil.  
2. The bag/chute switch button must be fully  
depressed by the tip of front tab on bag handle  
or blower chute for engine to start.  
Remove oil fill dipstick.  
With the Yard Vacuum on level ground, use a  
funnel to fill engine with oil to FULL mark on  
dipstick. Capacity is approximately 20 oz. Be  
careful not to overfill. Overfilling will cause the  
engine to smoke profusely and will result in poor  
engine performance. The oil bottle packaged  
with your Yard Vacuum contains 20 oz. of oil.  
Check the oil level making certain not to rub the  
dipstick along the inside walls of the oil fill tube.  
This would result in a false dipstick reading. Refill  
to FULL mark on dipstick, if necessary. Replace  
dipstick and tighten.  
3. Make sure bag/chute switch wire is connected to  
engine and grounded to mounting bracket.  
4. Gas tank should be filled 3/4 to full before start-  
ing.  
5. When temperature is above 32 degrees F:  
Move throttle control / choke level to START/  
RUN position.  
Depress the primer bulb firmly with your  
thumb three times. Wait about two seconds  
between each push. Do not use the primer to  
restart a warm engine after a short shutdown.  
See Figure 7.  
Check oil level three times prior to starting engine  
to be certain you’ve gotten an accurate dipstick  
reading. Running the engine with too little oil can  
result in permanent engine damage.  
When temperature is below 32 degrees F:  
Move throttle control / choke lever on engine  
to CHOKE position. (A warm engine may not  
require choking.) See Figure 7.  
If not using choke to start engine, move throt-  
tle control / choke lever to START/RUN posi-  
tion.  
Depress the primer bulb firmly with your  
thumb three times. Wait about two seconds  
between each push.  
Gasoline  
Remove fuel cap from the fuel tank.  
Make sure the container from which you will pour  
the gasoline is clean and free from rust or foreign  
particles. Never use gasoline that may be stale  
from long periods of storage in its container.  
Gasoline that has been sitting for any period  
longer than four weeks should be considered  
stale.  
NOTE: See air cleaner on side of engine for further  
starting instructions.  
Fill fuel tank with clean, fresh, unleaded regular,  
unleaded premium or reformulated automotive  
gasoline only. DO NOT use Ethyl or high octane  
gasoline. Do not use gasoline containing  
METHANOL. Replace fuel cap.  
To avoid engine problems, the fuel system  
should be emptied before storage for 30 days or  
longer. Drain the gas tank, start the engine and  
let it run until the fuel lines and carburetor are  
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See  
STORAGE section for additional information.  
Throttle Control/  
Choke Lever  
Primer  
Figure 7  
8
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6. Standing behind the unit, grasp starter handle  
and pull rope out until you feel a drag.  
Hold bag handle and bag clip while emptying the  
contents.  
Compress bag opening and fold inner flap over  
opening.  
Fold outer flap over inner flap and insert buttons  
on the bag through metal outlets.  
Twist the buttons to lock bag.  
7. Pull the rope with a rapid, continuous, full arm  
stroke. Keep a firm grip on the starter handle.  
Let the rope rewind slowly.  
8. Repeat, if necessary, until engine starts. When  
engine starts, move throttle /choke lever gradu-  
ally to START/RUN position.  
TO REMOVE BLOWER CHUTE  
9. If engine falters, move control lever to CHOKE  
position, then back to START/RUN position.  
Grasp blower chute with one hand and pull lock  
rod on mounting bracket with other hand toward  
engine to release. Refer to Figure 5.  
Remove blower chute from over the rim of the  
discharge opening.  
10. ALWAYS keep the throttle control in the START/  
RUN position when operating the Yard Vacuum.  
TO STOP ENGINE  
OPERATION  
Move throttle control lever to STOP or OFF  
position.  
Place both hands on top of upper handle to push unit  
over yard waste. Yard waste such as leaves and pine  
needles are vacuumed up through the nozzle and  
shredded by the flail blades on the impeller assembly  
and discharged into catcher bag or through blower  
chute. Do not attempt to shred or chip any material  
other than vegetation found in a normal yard (i.e.  
branches, leaves, twigs, etc.). Avoid fibrous plants  
such as tomato vines until they are thoroughly dried  
out. Material such as stalks or heavy branches up to 1  
1/2" in diameter may be fed into the chipper chute.  
See Figure 9.  
Disconnect spark plug wire and ground it to the  
post to prevent accidental starting while the  
equipment is unattended.  
When moving throttle control lever, be  
careful of heated surfaces and sharp  
edges on muffler guard.  
TO EMPTY BAG  
Unhook bag straps from the lower handle and  
unsnap bag clip from top of the lower handle. See  
Figure 8.  
Grasp bag handle with one hand and pull lock rod  
on mounting bracket with other hand toward  
engine to release.  
Remove bag from over the rim of the discharge  
opening. Refer to Figure 4.  
Twist the two buttons on the back of the bag to  
unlock and empty contents. See Figure 8.  
Nozzle  
Buttons  
Bag  
Inner Flap  
Clip  
Chipper Chute  
Figure 9  
Bag Handle  
Outer Flap  
WARNING: Do not attempt to shred,  
chip, or vacuum any material larger than  
specified on the machine or in this  
manual. Personal injury or damage to  
the machine could result.  
Strap  
IMPORTANT: The flail screen is located inside the  
housing in the discharge area. If the flail screen  
becomes clogged, stop engine and remove and clean  
as instructed in the SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENT  
section.  
Figure 8  
9
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MAINTENANCE  
MAINTENANCE  
SCHEDULE  
Lubrication  
Clean equipment  
Check engine oil  
Change engine oil  
Service air cleaner  
Service spark plug  
Service muffler  
Clean engine  
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS  
CLEAN EQUIPMENT  
Always observe safety rules when performing any  
Clean the Yard Vacuum thoroughly after each  
use.  
maintenance.  
The warranty on this Yard Vacuum does not  
cover items that have been subjected to operator  
abuse or negligence. To receive full value from  
the warranty, operator must maintain the  
equipment as instructed in this manual.  
Some adjustments will need to be made  
periodically to maintain your equipment properly.  
Follow the maintenance schedule.  
Wash the bag periodically with water. Allow to  
dry thoroughly in the shade.  
If the flail screen becomes clogged, remove and  
clean as instructed in the SERVICE AND  
ADJUSTMENT section.  
NOTE: Cleaning with a forceful spray of water is not  
recommended as it could contaminate the fuel  
system.  
Periodically check all fasteners and make sure  
they are tight.  
CHECK ENGINE OIL  
WARNING: Always stop the engine and  
disconnect and ground the spark plug  
wire before performing any maintenance  
or adjustments.  
Remove oil fill dipstick.  
Check oil level on dipstick. Level should be at  
FULL mark.  
Replace dipstick and tighten.  
LUBRICATION  
CHANGE ENGINE OIL  
Wheels- Place a few drops of SAE 30 oil on each  
shoulder screw once a season.  
Only use high quality detergent oil rated with API  
service classification SF, SG, or SH. Select the  
oil’s SAE viscosity grade according to the  
expected operating temperature. Refer to  
operation section for viscosity chart.  
Refer to Figure 6.  
Nozzle height adjustment levers- Lubricate  
nozzle height adjustment levers with light oil.  
Refer to Figure 6.  
Locking Rod- Lubricate the lock rod and  
compression springs which attach to the  
mounting bracket. Refer to Figure 4.  
Stop engine and wait several minutes before  
checking oil level. With engine on level ground,  
the oil must be to FULL mark on dipstick.  
Change engine oil after the first five hours of  
operation, and every twenty-five hours  
thereafter.  
10  
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SERVICE SPARK PLUG  
TO DRAIN OIL  
Clean the spark plug and reset the gap to.030" at  
least once a season or every 50 hours of  
operation. See Figure 10. Spark plug  
replacement is recommended at the start of each  
season. Refer to engine parts list for correct  
spark plug type.  
Drain oil while engine is warm. Follow the instructions  
given below.  
Drain the gas tank, start the engine and let it run  
until the fuel line and carburetor are empty.  
Remove oil fill dipstick.  
Tip unit on its side to drain through the oil fill tube.  
When engine is drained of all oil, refill with  
approximately 20 oz. of fresh oil. Refer to Gas  
And Oil Fill-up in OPERATION section.  
Replace dipstick.  
NOTE: Do not sandblast spark plug. Spark plug  
should be cleaned by scraping or wire brushing and  
washing with a commercial solvent.  
.030" Feeler Gauge  
SERVICE AIR CLEANER  
The air cleaner prevents damaging dirt, dust, etc.,  
from entering the carburetor and being forced into the  
engine and is important to engine life and  
performance. The air cleaner consists of a foam filter.  
Never run the engine without an air cleaner  
completely assembled.  
Spark Plug  
Figure 10  
To Service Air Cleaner:  
Remove foam filter from plastic housing on top of  
engine.  
SERVICE MUFFLER  
Wash in water and detergent solution, and  
squeeze (do not twist) until all dirt is removed.  
Rinse thoroughly in clear water.  
Wrap in a clean cloth and squeeze (do not twist)  
until completely dry, or allow to air dry.  
Saturate with engine oil and squeeze to distribute  
oil and remove excess oil.  
Inspect muffler periodically, and replace if  
necessary.  
If your engine is equipped with a spark arrester  
screen assembly, remove after every 50 hours of  
use for cleaning and inspection. Replace if  
damaged.  
WARNING: Do not operate the Yard  
Vacuum without a muffler or tamper with  
the exhaust system. Damaged mufflers  
or spark arresters could create a fire  
hazard.  
Replace foam filter in plastic housing  
NOTE: If the foam filter is torn or damaged in any  
way, replace it.  
WARNING: Temperature of muffler and  
nearby areas may exceed 150o F(65oC).  
Avoid these areas.  
CLEAN ENGINE  
Clean engine by removing dirt and debris with a  
cloth or brush.  
Frequently remove grass clippings, dirt, and  
debris from cooling fins, air intake screen, levers,  
and linkage. This will help ensure adequate  
cooling and engine speed.  
11  
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SERVICE AND ADJUSTMENTS  
WARNING: Do not at any time make any  
nearest Sears Service Center for repair and adjust-  
ment.  
adjustment to the unit without first  
stopping engine and disconnecting  
spark plug wire.  
WARNING: Do not attempt to alter the  
engine speed by tampering with the  
engine’s governor linkage. Doing so  
could result in serious personal injury  
and damage to the engine. The engine  
RPM has been set at the factory.  
NOZZLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT  
The nozzle can be adjusted to any of five positions,  
ranging from 5/8" to 4 1/8" ground clearance. The  
nozzle height has to be adjusted according to the  
conditions. Move the height adjustment levers  
forward or backward to adjust the nozzle upward or  
downward. It may be necessary to apply slight  
pressure to lower handle assembly, when shifting  
adjustment levers. See Figure 11.  
REMOVING THE FLAIL SCREEN  
If the discharge area becomes clogged, remove the  
flail screen and clean area as follows:  
Stop the engine. Make certain the chipper  
shredder vacuum has come to a complete stop.  
Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire  
before unclogging the discharge chute.  
Remove the vacuum bag or blower chute from  
the unit as instructed in the OPERATION section  
to obtain access to flail screen. See Figure 12.  
NOTE: In general, raise the nozzle height to vacuum  
a thick layer of leaves or to operate with the blower  
chute. Lower the nozzle height for smoother surfaces.  
Hex Screw & Flat Washer  
Flail Screen  
Lock Nut  
Nozzle Height  
REAR VIEW  
Figure 12  
Adjustment  
Nozzle  
Lever  
Remove hex screw on right side of unit that  
attaches to the flail screen. See Figure 13.  
Figure 11  
CARBURETOR ADJUSTMENT  
WARNING: If any adjustments (e.g.  
carburetor) are made to the engine  
while the engine is running, keep clear  
of all moving parts. Be careful of heated  
surfaces and muffler.  
The carburetor has been pre-set at the factory and  
should not require adjustment. If your engine does  
not operate properly due to suspected carburetor  
problems, take your Yard Vacuum to a Sears Service  
Center for repair and adjustment.  
Remove  
Hex Screw  
Figure 13  
Remove hex screw and flat washer on top of rear  
housing near mounting bracket and the lock nut  
that secures flail screen. See Figure 12.  
Remove and clean the screen by scraping or  
washing with water. Reinstall the screen.  
ENGINE SPEED  
The engine speed on your Yard Vacuum has been  
set at the factory. Do not attempt to increase the  
engine RPM. If you think that the engine is running  
too fast or too slow, take your Yard Vacuum to the  
12  
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Remove lock nut that secures flail screen to the  
lower housing. The flail screen does not have to  
be removed. Refer to Figure 12.  
Remove the hex bolt, lock washer, and flat  
washer that secure the impeller assembly to the  
crankshaft. See Figure 16.  
SHARPENING OR REPLACING CHIPPER  
BLADE  
Because the engine on this unit has a tapered  
crankshaft, a special impeller removal tool (part  
number 753-0900) is required to remove the impeller  
assembly. For further assistance, contact your Sears  
Service Center.  
Upper  
Housing  
Chipper  
Blade  
NOTE: When tipping the unit, empty the fuel tank and  
keep engine spark plug side up.  
Impeller  
Assembly  
Disconnect and ground the spark plug wire.  
Remove the front hubcaps, lock nuts, front  
wheels, and wave washers that attach to the pivot  
arm assemblies. See Figure 14.  
Remove the shoulder screws, thrust and bell  
washers that go through the pivot arms and  
height adjustment brackets to the front support  
brace.  
Hex Bolt  
Lock Washer  
Flat Washer  
Flail  
Blade  
Pivot Arm Assembly  
BOTTOM VIEW  
Figure 16  
Bell Washer  
Wave Washer  
Hubcap  
Apply lubricant to the threads of impeller removal  
tool and then thread the tool into the crankshaft.  
Stop when the impeller assembly can move on  
the crankshaft.  
Height Adjustment  
Bracket  
Remove the impeller assembly from the  
crankshaft. Unthread the impeller removal tool  
from the impeller assembly.  
Remove the chipper blade using a 3/16" allen  
wrench on the outside of the blade and 1/2"  
wrench on the underside of impeller assembly.  
Replace or sharpen chipper blade.  
When sharpening blade, protect hands by using  
gloves and follow the original angle of grind.  
Reassemble by performing the previous steps in  
reverse order.  
Thrust Washer  
Shoulder  
Screw  
Lock Nut  
Figure 14  
Remove the three screws on the upper housing  
that secure the nozzle cover and the nine screws  
that secure the lower housing to the upper  
housing. See Figure 15.  
Housing  
Screw  
• Tighten blade screws to 210 - 250 in-lbs.  
• Tighten impeller bolt to 375 - 425 in-lbs.  
NOTE: Make certain chipper blade is reassembled  
with the sharp edge facing upward. See Figure 17.  
Chipper  
Blade  
Flail  
Blade  
Nozzle  
Screws  
Lower Housing  
Screws  
Impeller  
Assembly  
Figure 15  
Figure 17  
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STORAGE  
NOTE: Fuel stabilizer is an acceptable alternative in  
minimizing the formation of fuel gum deposits during  
storage.  
Prepare your Craftsman Yard Vacuum for storage at  
the end of the season or if the unit will not be used for  
30 days or longer. A yearly check-up by your local  
Sears Service Center is a good way to ensure that the  
unit runs properly next season.  
Add stabilizer to gasoline in fuel tank or storage  
container.  
Always follow the mix ratio found on stabilizer  
container.  
Run engine at least 10 minutes after adding  
stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to reach the  
carburetor.  
Yard Vacuum  
Clean the equipment thoroughly.  
Wipe equipment with an oiled rag to prevent rust.  
Use a light oil or silicone to wipe.  
Do not drain the gas tank and carburetor if using  
fuel stabilizer. Drain all the oil from the  
crankcase (this should be done after the engine  
has been operated and is still warm) and refill the  
crankcase with fresh oil.  
Service the engine following instructions below.  
Store unit in a clean, dry area. Do not store next to  
corrosive materials such as fertilizer.  
Engine  
If you have drained the fuel tank, protect the inside of  
the engine as follows:  
IMPORTANT: It is important to prevent gum deposits  
from forming in essential fuel system parts such as  
the carburetor, fuel filter, fuel hose, or tank during  
storage. Also, alcohol blended fuels (called gasohol or  
using ethanol or methanol) can attract moisture which  
leads to separation and formation of acids during  
storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel system of an  
engine while in storage.  
Remove spark plug, pour approximately 1/2  
ounce (approximately one tablespoon) of engine  
oil into cylinder and crank slowly to distribute oil.  
Replace spark plug.  
Other  
Do not store gasoline from one season to  
another.  
Replace the gasoline can if it starts to rust. Rust  
and/or dirt in the gasoline will cause problems.  
Store unit in a clean, dry area. Do not store next  
to corrosive materials, such as fertilizer.  
To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be  
emptied before storage of 30 days or longer. Follow  
these instruction:  
Drain the fuel tank.  
Start the engine and let it run until the fuel lines  
and carburetor are empty.  
Drain carburetor.  
Never use engine or carburetor cleaner products  
in the fuel tank or permanent damage may occur.  
NOTE: If storing in an unventilated or metal storage  
shed, be certain to rustproof the equipment by coat-  
ing with a light oil or silicone.  
14  
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TROUBLESHOOTING  
Problem  
Possible Cause(s)  
Corrective Action  
Engine fails to start  
1. Fuel tank empty or stale fuel.  
1. Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline. Fuel will not  
last over thirty days unless a fuel stabilizer is  
added.  
2. Spark plug wire disconnected.  
3. Cannot pull recoil cord.  
2. Connect wire to spark plug.  
3. Obstruction lodged in impeller. Disconnect  
spark plug wire and remove lodged object.  
4. Move CHOKE to ON position.  
5. Clean fuel line.  
4. Choke not in ON position.  
5. Blocked fuel line.  
6. Prime engine.  
6. Engine not primed properly.  
7. Faulty spark plug.  
8. Safety switch not depressed.  
7. Clean, adjust gap, or replace.  
8. Safety switch must be depressed by the front  
tab on the bag handle when securing the bag.  
9. Connect safety switch wire to engine connector  
and ground to mounting bracket.  
9. Safety switch wire is not  
connected to engine or not  
properly grounded.  
Loss of power;  
operation erratic  
1. Spark plug wire loose.  
2. Unit running on CHOKE.  
3. Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.  
1. Connect and tighten spark plug wire.  
2. Move choke lever to OFF position.  
3. Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean fresh  
gasoline. Fuel will not last over thirty days  
unless a fuel stabilizer is used.  
4. Water or dirt in fuel system.  
4. Disconnect fuel line at carburetor to drain fuel  
tank. Refill with fresh fuel.  
5. Carburetor out of adjustment.  
6. Low engine RPM.  
5. Contact your Sears Service Center.  
6. Always run engine at full throttle.  
Too much vibration  
Engine overheats  
1. Loose parts or damaged  
impeller.  
1. Stop engine immediately and disconnect spark  
plug wire. Have unit serviced by a Sears  
Service Center.  
1. Carburetor not adjusted  
2. Engine oil level low  
3. Dirty air cleaner.  
1. Contact your Sears Service Center.  
2. Fill crankcase with proper selection of oil.  
3. Clean or replace air cleaner.  
Occasional skip  
(hesitates) at high  
speed.  
1. Spark plug gap too close.  
1. Adjust gap to.030”.  
Unit does not  
discharge  
1. Discharge chute clogged.  
1. Stop engine immediately and disconnect spark  
plug wire. Clean flail screen and inside of  
discharge opening. See Maintenance section of  
this manual.  
2. Foreign object lodged in  
impeller.  
3. Low engine RPM.  
4. Vacuum bag is full.  
2. Stop engine immediately and disconnect spark  
plug wire. Remove lodged object.  
3. Always run engine at full throttle.  
4. Empty bag.  
Rate of discharge  
slows considerably or  
composition of  
1. Low engine RPM.  
2. Chipper blade dull.  
1. Always run engine at full throttle.  
2. Replace chipper blade or see your Sears  
Service Center.  
discharged material  
changes  
NOTE: For repairs beyond the minor adjustments listed above, please contact your local Sears Service Center.  
15  
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