Good leaf blower?

[Phils]

The search function appears to be not working, similar to this whole site earlier, so if there's a relevent thread I couldn't find it.

I am hoping members of the TBN collective mind have some good recommendations for a leaf blower. I refuse to use the one I have ever again. It's an Eager Beaver that I bought maybe 15 years ago, but I haven't used it more than once a year before now. Runs great, but the exhaust blows back at the operator making clothes stink, making it very hot on those clothes and skin and making me inhale the exhaust the whole time. If I hold it to the side to avoid the exhaust it wants to keep sucking my clothes against the guard. It's obnoxious to use in other ways, but those complaints are the major ones.

I have maybe an acre total of gravel around the house and outbuildings I'd like to clear of leaves a couple of times a month, but I've always hated that blower so much I just avoid job altogether and let the leaves pile up.

I'm guessing a backpack-type would eliminate most of my complaints. I don't need professional grade but if that's the only choice I'll find a bullet to bite.

Any suggestions?

Phil

 

[Birdhunter1]

Stihl, Echo, Redmax are all good brands tha are heavily used by professionals.

I've never used a backpack blowr but I use my handheld Stihl BG55 very often and I have no complaints.

 

[Phils]

Thanks, Rick. I'm not committed to the backpack style, just want something that directs the exhaust away from the operator without directing it at a pile of dry leaves. I'll put that model on my list to check out. I have a Stihl chainsaw and already appreciate the brand.

Phil

 

[Phils]

Been doing some searching online and realize maybe an electric blower would work for me so if anyone has recommendations in that style please include them. I don't EVER use it as a vacuum and most (if not all) of the bad reviews I found referred to the vacuum function.

Phil

 

[Will_C]

Phil,
Can't help you with an electric blower, but I have had a Stihl backpack blower for 5 years now and am very happy with it.
Will

 

[TenZero]

I'd stay away from electric unless you have a very small yard. I'm willing to bet if you buy an electric you'll later be wishing you bought a gas model.

The Stihl BG55 and BG65 are darn good, especially for the money (easily less than $200). I have the BG55 and wish I would've spent the few extra dollars on the BG65. They both have the same exact power but the BG65 has a rubberized grip, a second higher speed nozzle, and thumb throttle.

 

[RebelRAM]

I have an electric but I'm not covering near the amount of area you are. I have a Black and Decker Leaf Hog. 230MPH and that thing can definitely move leaves, rocks, and lots of other stuff in the yard. I run it on a 50ft. extension cord in front of my house(sidewalk and driveway and flower beds). So I didn't really need a gas one. My dad tried to talk me out of the electric, but for my needs it works very well.

 

[Birdhunter1]

The BG 55 and 65 are the exact same blower in all regards, except teh 65 has a slightly higher airspeed while the 55 has more volume......
easily solved by buying a flat tube for the 55 which gives you the same velocity as the 85. If you look at the specs for the BG blowers when the air velocity goes up, the cfm (cubic feet per mintue... volume) of air goes down, the BG 85 uses a flatter tube thus giving it more velocity and less cfm while the BG 55 uses a round tube giving it more cfm and less velocity. What does this mean to us?..... With more volume and less velocity you can blow leaves and grass clippings out of rock garens and flower beds without blowing the rocks or mulch out. With more velocity and less volume you can blow stuff faster/farther (like cleaning off the entire yard). What I do with my BG55 is I take the flat tube off and carry it in my hand while blowing out the flower beds or rock garndens of the yards I maintain and then snap and twist the flat tube on to clean offf driveways, sidewlks, streets etc.
For what it's worth I think the Stihl gutter kit is worthless, it works beter to get on the roof and blow them out. The gutter kit flies apart (it needs some pto lockpins drilled and placed in them to hold together better) plus it throws the stuff out and on top of your head/in your face. The stuff in gutters is usually about half rotten and wet.

I looked into the BG 55, 65 and 85 and went with the 55 because it is bascially the exact blower as the other two and it was the best bang for the buck. Don't get me worng I'd rahter have the backpack blower but I didn't feel like shelling out that much for it the BG 55 does what I need to do and will do everything a homeowner will ever demand of one.


Go with a gas blower over an electric, you will find you use it for a lot more than you think you will.
Besides blowing leaves they also work great for:

cleaning behind the fridge
cleaning the shop (sawdust on the floor, equipment, etc)
open all the doors in your truck, turn blower on and blow it out
cleaning a bushhog deck off after mowing, blowing the S*** out of the tractor knooks and crannies after mowing
cleaning a combine after harvest season
take it up on your roof and blow out your gutters
Cats hate them
I use mine often for cleaning the dog pens out when the S*** is dry
cleaning out haylofts
cleaning off the deck of your trailer, bed of your truck, etc

 

[Birdhunter1]

The BG 55, 65, and 85 have the same engine.

They also work great for "fanning the flame" of a fire that just don't want to take off right!

 

[Phils]

Thanks, all. OK, gonna go with gas. I'd be dealing with two 100' extension cords otherwise. My reasoning for getting an electric was that with one maybe SHE would do the blowing. I'll limit my vent to simply state that it puts me in a less-than-good mood to be using that **** blower I have now (choking on exhaust, arm hurting from trying to hold it away from my body, etc.) when SHE comes out and starts pointing out the places I've 'missed'. Grrrrrrrrrr........

Since TBN was down yesterday I found some lawn and garden forums and was able to search and come up with quite a few posts about "which blower is best for me?".

Stihl units work well usually but quite a few have starting problems (only the blowers, and only some). One thing that was mentioned frequently was to buy from a dealer vs a big box store.

I saw no bad posts about Echo. Comparing units, the PB261L seemed like a good choice (it's model number is 260 if it's not California smog certified). I went to a local Echo dealer but they didn't have one of that model in stock, instead recommending a 513 (or was it 613?) that was only $30 more but 44cc instead of 25cc, with a corresponding increase of CFM, although MPH was about the same.

However, that one is 9 pounds heavier than the 261 so the dealer is ordering one in (no obligation to me) and I can compare them side-by-side on my back and running. I told them no hurry so it'll be about a week before I can compare. I expect I'll like the 261 just fine and at almost half the weight of the other one will likely be the one I buy.

They quoted me the same prices as HomeDepot ($270) so I guess Echo enforces price controls. I had expected and was willing to pay a little more to have dealer service.

I'll post back with the final decision when I make it but will still consider other posts with suggestions.

Phil

 

[Birdhunter1]

Every Stihl product I have ever used started the exact same way. The only problems I have ever personally seen with a stihl anythgin not starting easily is when the person trying to start it doesn't try starting it correctly.

My dad for instance...been around equipment all of his life, taught me most of what I know. He borrowed my Stihl chainsaw and coudln't get it to start, I tried and it fired on the fourth crank as always. One day we were working a yard together and he went to grab my leaf blower and he couldn't get it started, third crank for me it started right up. Would you belive the same thing happens often with my weedeater?

With a Stihl.... if it has a primer bulb prime it 5 or 6 times or till you can feel a pressure on it. Lock the throttle wide open, choke it full, crank till it sputters, when it sputters turn the choke completely off and pull cord. Usually the first or second pull and it will fire right up and run liek a champ. I have explained this to dad and showed him a hundred times and he still has trouble.

My dad has a Craftsman blower, talk about something difficult to start!

 

[jimed1]

I have had Echo and Stihl. They are both very good. Everything I have right now is Stihl (weedeater with polesaw and hedge trimmer, brushcutter with clearingsaw blade, chainsaw, blower - SH85). If I can afford to, I will probably never own anything but Stihl again. They alway start. Heck, when the weather is warm, I can start my blower and weedeater on one pull if I can get the choke off fast enough to not kill it. BTW, the only reason I got rid of the echo was that I just wanted a Stihl. The echo was old, but it ran great.

Jim

 

[Phils]

Thanks, Jim.

I haven't gotten a call yet from the shop ordering the Echo in, but since my arm is still hurting from using my blower 2 weeks ago I'm in no hurry to try it anyway. I stopped taking ibuprofin finally this morning and will limit my activities until fully healed which could be another week.

I have a Stihl (54?) with a 36" bar and have never had a problem starting it. I've never had a problem starting any of my small engines tho. Fresh gas, a few pumps on a fuel primer, full choke until a burp or other sign of ignition, then 1/2 choke until it starts. I only use synthetic 2-cycle oil. Never had problems starting small engines for decades.

At barely over 10 lbs. though, this Echo backpack seems like the perfect solution for me but it'll be nice to try it and compare with others, including Stihl since they are a dealer for that company too.

Phil

 

[Phils]

The Echo 261L came in. Their larger model had been sold so I couldn't compare side-to-side. I bought the 261 anyway as it really seemed the one I needed from what I got from some other forums.

I used two complete tanks of gas on Monday... blew a lot of leaves. It was nice to have a machine that I could use until the gas ran out, and then use it again until the gas ran out. At that point I was out of leaves but not out of energy. My arm still hurt but didn't seem to be aggravated by the small effort needed to steer the wind.

Worked great!

Phil

 

[ike]

I agree with Birdhunter regarding Stihl equipment. I have a junky little 017 Stihl chainsaw that I was going to give away since the on switch mechanism had problems. I took it to get it fixed and Stihl repaired it free, three years after the Warranty expired! I continue to abuse the saw and it just won't die!


I like my Tanaka TBL4600 Back pack leaf blower. It starts up fine every year (make sure you run it dry at the end of the season).

I also have an Echo PB-2100 leaf blower I use for blowing the dust off my tractors every week. It works great and also handles my abuse (lack of maintenance).