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PRO

I need a backpack blower

Hey. It's leaf clearance season again and i think it is time i invested in one of these. I have been doing quite a bit of scarifying and hollow tine aerating recently and i am sure it would come in useful for these operations too.

I am sure many people would say get a BR600 magnum but i would rather not. There have been too many issues with Stihl recently, many of which have been highlighted here and on other forums. I have also read that Stihl will be discontinuing the 4 mix engine due to design flaws.

I have been considering a Husqvarna as I already use their chainsaws and a brushcutter. The model at the top of the range is the     580BTS   . It has air volume output which is higher than the BR600 and lower vibrations. On the down side it is quite heavy and maybe slightly noisier than the Stihl.

Any thoughts ?

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Replies

  • huski have inproved a lot over the last couple of years since it was bought back off electalux i have a stihl as you say carb probs which i have have, take a look at echo good tools

  • I've got a VERY old echo, bought off a bloke who'd used it for over ten years at a huge country house set in woodland. It must have had endless hours of use. It's a little smokey, but runs perfectly well for the odd couple of jobs I need it for.

    I can't imagine a modern Stihl lasting a fraction of that time, but are new Echos built as well as older ones? If so, that'd be my choice.

  • PRO

    The backpack blower is the bit of kit that comes to 99% of the jobs that I do. I'm not sure if i would recommend the Husqvarna, although it's very good it's a bit to heavy for my liking.

  • Likewise, backpack blower is one tool I can NOT get by without. I could use a strimmer instead of a mower, but there is nothing that does the job of the blower.

    I have been using my br600 for 3 years, bought it 2 years old, so it has had 5 years of hard use, not a service and hasn't let me down once. It still runs perfectly.

  • I use the Stihl BR600 for Aeration and scarification jobs, I consider a back pack blower as vital to carry out the clearing up after aeration and scarification, along with plastic rake and snow shovel for collecting cores, unless you leave cores on lawn to top dress(to lazy to do the job correct in the North West as soil is clay based),
    I also have a Stihl hand held blower comes every job with me, re fared to as the petrol brush.

  • I have a old Stihl BR400. It's great, had it 4 years now and it was 6 years old when I bought it. Plenty of power for clearing up after hedge cutting or lawn work as mentioned above.

  • PRO

    Thanks for the replies. The weight of the husqvarna is the only thing putting me off - its almost 2kg heavier than the BR600.

    I love my Pellenc blower but it is not as powerful as a good backpack model.It can blow the arisings from scarifying but is very slow for moving cores. I have a BG86 as well which is about as powerful as the pellenc. Tried using the 2 blowers at the same time and it did work well but it made me ache like hell.

    It seems i am slowly being persuaded in to buying a BR600 magnum. Aaahhhhh - i promised myself i wouldn't. Will have a peek at some Echo blowers tonight.

    P.S Work enquiry rate has gone through the roof recently - shouldn't complain but i have a new baby arriving in the middle of November. 2 weeks paternity leave and then bloody christmas.

  • PRO

    I like the look of the "Billy Goat Force" blowers for cleaning up wet scarifying mess.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jW9_JCr14

    Has anyone used one?

  • I have used my Stihl BR600 Magnum for the last 3 years and not had any problems with it ( Bought new ). Personally I would not have any issues recommending it. Have been very impressed with it's capability.


  • Used our Force 13 for the first time this season today.
    Robbie @ PremierLawnsni said:

    I like the look of the "Billy Goat Force" blowers for cleaning up wet scarifying mess.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jW9_JCr14

    Has anyone used one?

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