Gas Powered Leaf Blower?

[InternetBromando]

I'm looking to buy a small, handheld gas leaf and lawn blower. I was considering the stihl. Do any of you guys have any experience with these? I'm getting tired of electrical cords, so it's gotta be gas powered or battery. I have a fairly small property, so battery isn't out of the question.

[mhen]

I use a backpack stihl at work weekly. Never had any problems with it and stihl makes great stuff. Not sure how their warranty is though, might want to check that. If I were in your shoes I'd take a look at what craftsman has. Their stuff costs a bit more but the warranty can't be beat.

[Radio Relay]

Originally Posted by InternetBromando

I'm looking to buy a small, handheld gas leaf and lawn blower. I was considering the stihl. Do any of you guys have any experience with these? I'm getting tired of electrical cords, so it's gotta be gas powered or battery. I have a fairly small property, so battery isn't out of the question.

I got a nice Stihl for about $80 bucks over at Home Depot. Had it a couple years now ... Starts easy, and does a good job.

Also, for the small engines, get the premixed gas, don't leave any in the tank when you're done (i.e. pour what's left back into the can), and then run it after you empty the tank until it dies (that keeps the carburetor from gumming up).

[jimdanos]

Stihl is the best. Troy Bilt and Weed Eater models are CRAP.

[curryman]

Originally Posted by jimdanos

Stihl is the best. Troy Bilt and Weed Eater models are CRAP.

So are toro(homelite). My own house one is a Echo. Plus one on the fuel care. This ethanal bs is killing 3 year old units down here. My mow route ones are a redmax backpack and two redmax handhelds. One handheld just ate its innards because of the corn based gas.

You may be better off with the crap class $80 range. Use it for 4 years and be ready to buy a new one. I got 6 years out of a poulon(pullon).

Keep us posted.

Curryman

[OKcherokee]

Only bad thing I can say about Stihl is that I hate the rattling noise you get from some of their products.

If that is the only bad thing I can say, then I guess they are pretty good. Don't know that I have noticed it in the handheld blowers, but it is pretty pronounced in their line trimmers and hedge trimmers.

[skeeterwholf]

Check out the ECHO products. I have two of their blowers.... a handheld and a backpack. Excellent products and a great warranty.

[InternetBromando]

thanks guys. i appreciate the inputs.

i hear you on the ethanol in gasoline. i own a fleet of dirtbikes, and the fuel is killing me. i ride mine almost every week, so the carb stays clean. for my all my kid's and wife's bikes, i shut of the gas and run the engine till the carb is dry. if any fuel sits in a carb, then i've got to pull it and clean it. fuel stabilizers don't seem to work very well against this stuff.

[maizera]

I bought a Husqvarna a year ago and really like it. I was told by a lawn care person to get one with a metal blade when you vac the leaves.

I looked at a Stihl, they are great machines, but cost more money. I also know a few people that swear by Echo's.

If you are looking at a Stihl and like it, I would buy it. I don't think you will be dis-appointed.

[Buffman]

I'm happy with most of my poulan /poulan pro items. Heck I have a yard machines gas weed eater that still goes strong after 4yrs.. Although my dad has lawnboy 2 stroke mower that he finally broke the original blade on it after 20 yrs.. He's really anal about his yard equipmentl.