Best Back Pack Leaf Blower?

[royr]

My Echo Back Pack leaf blower is getting old (Bought 1987) - and tired. I saw a comercial landscaper running a Redmax EB8001 and was litterally flipping a brick across the driveway with the air stream. They are made by Komotsu (a Japanese heavy equipment company). He said this was the best one he has ever used. Is this a good one to buy - or is something else better? I found one new for $485.00 in my fist - I am looking to push lots of wet leaves around. What is the experience of our Titantalk members? Deal or no deal?

[Coldtitan]

I ran a Stihl BR 420 for 8 years of landscaping and loved it. Lots of push and easy to handle. FYI if you get one always let it warm up for about a minute. We have seen these engines seise due to an aluminum piston warming and expanding faster than the cast block when it is under load.

[James Con]

Originally Posted by royr

My Echo Back Pack leaf blower is getting old (Bought 1987) - and tired. I saw a comercial landscaper running a Redmax EB8001 and was litterally flipping a brick across the driveway with the air stream. They are made by Komotsu (a Japanese heavy equipment company). He said this was the best one he has ever used. Is this a good one to buy - or is something else better? I found one new for $485.00 in my fist - I am looking to push lots of wet leaves around. What is the experience of our Titantalk members? Deal or no deal?

Believe it or not komatsu is american. If you have enough property to justify a lawntractor I would get one with the leaf vacuum attachment. Mine works great. I have a small echo for around the garden area and then I drive over the piles with the tractor. $485.00 your halfway to a new tractor, and you can drink while you drive.But if that thing can blow a brick over and over sounds like that's the one to get if you need a backpack.

[royr]

It Came! Wow - I love my new blower - great addition to my garage tools. 1/2 tank of pre-mix made short work of all the leaves on my entire property. Hats off to Komotsu - I know know why the Redmax is the #1 back pack blower in the world - great machine - two thumbs up!!

[P's Titan]

Originally Posted by royr

It Came! Wow - I love my new blower - two thumbs up!!

is it a blonde, red head, brunette ??

B,C, or D cup ??

show us some pics

[54warrior]

Best Back Pack Blower, now that's a mouthful!!!

[anmut]

Originally Posted by royr

My Echo Back Pack leaf blower is getting old (Bought 1987) - and tired. I saw a comercial landscaper running a Redmax EB8001 and was litterally flipping a brick across the driveway with the air stream. They are made by Komotsu (a Japanese heavy equipment company). He said this was the best one he has ever used. Is this a good one to buy - or is something else better? I found one new for $485.00 in my fist - I am looking to push lots of wet leaves around. What is the experience of our Titantalk members? Deal or no deal?

My friends dad bought a $500 (forget the brand) backpack leaf blower - one of the fastest you can buy. He brings it over and does our leaves & pine needles in a couple hours. It's completely worth it and if I could afford it I'd have one. This last spring I thatched the yard and this blower took EVERYTHING up. It was fantastic. I haven't touched a rake in two years.

[rico387]

Echo was once a great name in power equip. Now, a department store brand. I hate to say Stihl is now borderline, but falling off the cheap end. Red Max is still high end. I had a Red Max blower a few years ago, and it was badass. Also Maruyama is a player.

[royr]

Rico - you are right on the money. I was so surprised when I went shopping that the new Echo were basically use and dispose. My 1989 Stihl 034 chain saw was well worth fixing up and keeping. All the parts are still available - and the Stihl employee that I called and asked for advice says that Stihl has NO equivilant replacment on the market that will perform the way my saw does. A rebuild - which I am very happy with - was just the ticket. The 8001 model Redmax (yes the rest of you guys - she is a wild hard blowing red-head) - is just the ticket for clearing the yard of debris for what I hope to be many years to come.

[rico387]

Royr-I ran a landscape maintenence biz aside from my fire career for 13 years. I retired (sold) it in '04. I learned so much about people+equipment. What I learned about people is for another thread. What I learned about lawn equipment I can share here, although most will still go to Wal-Mart, Sears, Home Depot, or Lowe's for equipment. You can budget yourself for cheap stuff with brand names at big box stores. Or you can choose to buy from the corner mower shop that caters to the pros. You will find brands like Red Max, Maruyama, Robin, or Shindaiwa. Strange names, but all will Have plenty of power, start every time, and cause less operator fatigue due to better balance. Dealerships will give good service. People will still buy junk.

[royr]

I have always relied on a mix of my own research and the advice of the local Mom & Pop equipment dealers that service what they sell. It has worked well so far - still have my first tractor and Deer weed wacker (both John Deer bought from a local dealer in 1985), Honda Generator (1986), Stihl 034 chain saw (1988), Lincoln Welder - the list goes on. I prefer to buy professional equipment and maintain it rather than endorse our current throw away mentality that our society embraces. I prefer to spend my money - even if it cost a few more $$ up front - with the little guy down the street. I have no use for the "big box" stores where I have trouble even finding someone to get a box down off a high shelf - let along give advice about equipment that I plan on using for decades if all goes well. Call me old fashioned - but this aproach has saved me big $$ over time - as well as helped me make a few freinds along the way with the local folks whose children I help put through life with my purchases. God Bless America and the good folks who work here!

[P's Titan]

Originally Posted by royr

(yes the rest of you guys - she is a wild hard blowing red-head)

does she swallow ??

[royr]

Originally Posted by P's Titan

does she swallow ??

Unfortunately not - just blows and blows until she runs out of gas. Sort of reminds me of my first girlfriend back in High School - except without the braces.