Hand Held Leaf Blowers. Twisting Effect

When I started working in garden maintenance I had no experience and no real idea of manufactures or models of power tools to invest in. and sadly no Landscape Juice.After reading and researching as much as possible I elected to purchase the new mini 4 stroke tools mostly manufactured by Honda.I have been more than satisfied with the Honda bent shaft strimmer and leaf blower. No messing around with mixing fuel, less pollution, less contamination onto my clothes and person and less noise, easy starting.As stated I could not really sing the praises of 4 stroke too much as I had never used any of the quality 2 stroke equivalents manufactured by the likes of Stihl.Well on Friday I was working with a friend and instead of using my own Honda blower I picked up his Stihl blower. The machine was very powerful ( model number was missing from the blower but think it was a BG 85) My friend had often said that his elbow hurt after using the blower and after only a few minutes use I could understand why.. The power /torque of the motor was trying to send the blower away to the right and my arm was compensating this force. I did not use the blower long enough to register any sort of stress but imagined it could be problematic as my friend had experienced.I had some time ago read that Echo had produced a blower which reduced this force but had no idea how real it was. I do not know if Echo has managed to do this successfully but furthermore the 4 stroke Honda that I use has non of this force and as far as I have ascertained is equal to the power of the Stihl BG 85.I often read LJN members favorable comments with regard to Stihl blowers and wondered if this twisting effect is an issue to any one using Stihl and perhaps other well known blowers and has anyone suffered as a consequence?

Replies

Kirsty Blair May 30, 2010 at 10:34pm

I've used the echo one, I think its a muscle thing - I did this every week on a large estate for about 3months and after the 2nd week I'd adjusted to it. They are powerful m/c's so you do feel the pressure - I didn't feel any lasting damage.
Kieran Ray May 30, 2010 at 10:52pm

I used to have a bg85 now a bg86 they both like to turn to the right but again I haven't had any ache due to this, sometimes I get arm ache from carrying it for a long period of time, but nothing from the twisting efect. I have only used a ryobi blower too and this didnt have the force to twist in my hand but too didnt have the same blowing force as the stihl.
Richard@www.seasons-garden.co.uk May 30, 2010 at 11:24pm

There's a hole on the white casing behind the handle which is for a shoulder strap. If you use the blower supported this way you can use it all day long without any aches or pains.
Classic Gardens May 31, 2010 at 7:36am

I agree I can't belive the differance in vibration from the 85 to the 86.

I have no pain in the wrist from using it but like a previous post said it must be a muscle thing and once your use to it it should be fine.

Pro Gard said:
I curently have a BG86, bought to reoplace my BG 85 as farr lower vibration levels 10ms less!!!, the 86 is a better machine and is more comfortable to operate,not really noticed any twisting on either.Anything of long duration then I use the back husqy.
Geoff Norfolk May 31, 2010 at 6:08pm

I think the "twisting" only occurs when you rev it up from stationary..... once its going, you're ok. I think its just the fan spinning and you get a counter force going in the opposite direction...... like drilling a hole, the drill bit gets stuck and the drill starts twisting.