TROY-BILT BLOWER/VAC
by Troy-Bilt
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Our Price: $147.17 Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of TROY-BILT BLOWER/VAC
Customer Review: Avoid, Particularly If You're Buying Online
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm on my third one of these in less than a year (and a total of about 16 hours of use.) The first one's handle broke (where the strap connects to the handle) while using it to vacuum for perhaps the third or fourth relatively gentle use. The second one's handle broke on the very first use. Also, the second one wasn't as easy to start, but that may have been because the fuel was a little long in the tooth.
As for blowing, it performs well, although it is very loud, as others have pointed out. When vacuuming, it doesn't take much to clog it, and the attachments can be somewhat tedious. The bag is indeed too small, which could be directly related to the handle issue-- perhaps they knew the cheapo plastic handle couldn't take much stress, so instead of making it stronger, they made the bag smaller. I'm a little surprised that more people haven't reported problems with the handle.
Anyway, I thank Lowe's for having an excellent return policy, as I may be picking up a new blower each time I need to vacuum leaves. I would have replaced this one with something else, but unfortunately they didn't have another product with a 40:1 fuel ratio (my trimmer runs on the same fuel, so I want to stick with it) that I was interested in. Perhaps they'll have something better next time. Sigh.
Customer Review: Figured Troy Bilt Would Be a Better Buy ...
Summary: 1 Stars
Just bought the blower and cranked it up according to the instructions provided.
It started easily like it said, and it idled relatively quietly while warming up, save for a slight metallic rattling noise which I couldn't figure out. The honeymoon was over shortly after this point.
I let the blower idle for a few minutes to let it warm up. When I pushed the throttle control to fast and began using it, the throttle control rolled back to slow/turtle speed.
I thought it would need more time to warm up, so I let it idle for a few more minutes.
Again, I moved the throttle to high speed and it went back to slow. This time I moved it back to fast and kept my fingers pushed against the throttle arm while I used it.
Cautiously, I let the arm go and it stayed in place, but only for about ten (10) seconds.
During this test period, I continued to hear the metallic rattling noise.
After continued attempts to keep the throttle arm in place I decided not to try my luck with the vacuum bag since I wouldn't want to soil other parts that I would be returning.
I do not recommend this product. Perhaps Troy Bilt has better models to consider, but I'm not going to waste my time.
Customer Review: Its just exactly like my craftsman
Summary: 3 Stars
Sears sells this same machine with their craftsman brand name on it. Thats what I got. I agree with some, the rope has a wierd pull that takes some getting used to and I question if it even helps starting much, since its such a little engine. As a blower I like it. But it is easy to keep hitting the throttle and changing the speed. ALL BLOWERS blow about the same. I like that there is no cord to limit me. Technique helps you move leaves. Blow them into a pile and then stick the nozzle UNDER the pile and lift to move them. And DUH! all wet leaves will stick to the ground. My biggest gripe is the capacity of the mulch bag. 10 to 1 my butt. Its about 4 to 1. It does mulch well and will even chop up thin twigs but you got to empty the bag so often and its cumbersome to do. I'm thinking of adapting this machine to a covered wagon that I can pull behind my tractor. I will use my tractor to blow leaves into a pile and then use the vac mounted on a wagon with a long flex tube to suck up leaves like landscapers do. I do find the vac very usefull around bushs and flower beds and other tight spots.
Customer Review: Unreliable and disappointing.
Summary: 1 Stars
Fuel tank leaks. Gas cap leaks. Throttle awkward to use. Throttle will not stay set in desired running position and goes to idle unbidden. Extremely loud. Gas hog. Difficult to service air cleaner. Non-existent support from manufacturer. Difficult to start - takes hundreds of pulls to warm the engine by pulling the starter rope. Over-heats and quits running. Will not start when it is cooler than 60º. Exhaust blows back on operator's legs. Yard care equipment dealers will not service these blowers because they consider them to be throw-away junk. It was cheap but not worth the money I spent. I am not a newbie with these things. I have many 2-cycle and 4-cycle engine powered machines. Troy-Bilt makes the worst "price-point" garbage on the planet. After much frustration and disappointment with this awful piece of junk I drained the tank and threw it in the garbage with great joy. Do not buy Troy-Bilt products. Honda, Husqvarna, Stihl, Echo - heck, everyone else - makes better, more reliable equipment than Troy-Bilt.Customer Review: Troy-Bilt Mulching Vacuum Blower Model TB320BV
Summary: 3 Stars
The motor takes a minute or two to get up to speed, but once it does it runs smooth and has good power at the highest setting. Don't expect it blow wet leaves or even wet grass though. The speed control lever is my biggest complaint. It's big, and I constantly hit it with my knuckles, knocking the speed control down to the lower settings. Even worse the vibration causes the lever to bounce to the lower settings on it's own. This causes me to hold the lever in place with one hand, and the blower in the other.
The vacuum is powerful. On the lowest setting I was able to vacuum the leaves and pine needles from the flowerbed, leaving the lava rocks behind. The higher settings were powerful enough to suck up 1-2 inch size rocks (not recommended). I did not have any problems with the bag. The spring on the vacuum door is rather tight and it was difficult getting the vacuum attachment on with only two hands.