What's the best backpack blower on the market?

[j. karl]

If it sounds like a 390xp done deal!!

 

[CJ1]

I picked up a 580bts a few weeks ago to replace my ebz8000. What little bit I got to run it, I like it so far. CJ

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

2-Year Update:
(1-year update)

Remembering I detailed a specific need for excessive power to rip & launch wet oak leaves into wooded land previously in this thread...

The RedMax EBZ8500RH two-stroke was stored from Spring until Fall drained of fuel. I've switched to 93 octane fuel and Stihl HP Ultra oil. It started on the first pull with the fuel out of the can from last Fall--wow. Ran perfectly smooth too, just let it idle to warm up for five minutes and then started in.

I used one extra extension tube beyond the factory setup (add-on item at the time of purchase) and the constrictor nozzle from the EBZ7500 (add-on purchase), but not the scraper nozzle (add-on purchase). This year the combination was enough to get the leaves up and into the woods. This time they were just "moist" and the leaves were already pushed back from the edge of the woods from last year, allowing these to cleanly jet in without issue. This setup is much easier to use than having the scraper nozzle on the end.

Time was down to 1.5 hours for a moderate amount of leaves (vs. heavy last year), 7/8 throttle and one tank of gas. That's a huge savings over last year!

Given noise is not a concern and the property is large, the RedMax was a huge advantage over the Stihl BR600 Magnum.

The Stihl KombiSystem is running well, although I would not want to go smaller than the KM 130 R engine (heavy, but tons of power, and I really like the power*). No issues at all, with the attachments or engine, everything works like new. The blower seems to have slightly loose bearings, but other than the fan vibrating a bit everything is working fine.

Thanks again for the up-front advice before buying all this, you've made my work much easier!


*Please remember I'm a big guy who wants to power through tough jobs, these tools are pretty heavy for the average person.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Time to switch to a BR700 now.

 

[blsnelling]

Time to switch to a BR700 now.

No thanks. Same engine, but heavier blower. More volume, but significantly less velocity.

 

[gmcman]

I don't think the BR700 has the same breakaway force as the BR600. I had a conversation with a landscaper recently and while he likes his BR700, his BR600 clears out the small sticks, acorns, etc, from the grass easier than the 700.

I'm on the fence of a Husky 580/BR700 as an upgrade to my 600 but I think if I had to pull the trigger it would be the Husky.

I used my 600 yesterday and it still works great but would like a more powerful blower....but hard to justify the price of a new one.

I had this discussion in another thread and the temptation is there, but I want a big upgrade, like 1000 CFM and 220 MPH....

 

[sawfun]

One thing to consider is the area of operation. Here west of the Cascades, it's wet most of the time so the speed of the 600 may be advantageous to the volume of the 700. Lots of stuck leaves & small branches.

 

[gmcman]

We need a BR800 or a Husqvarna 590 BTS.....something with about 80 cc's or more and capable of big CFM and airspeed. If you don't need all that power, then use the smaller blowers. For landscaping I can see the need for a smaller, lighter, fuel efficient blower. However for the ones who want big power and don't like to spend a lot of time clearing their property then build a big a$$ blower.

I know this is an old thread, but has good info and we will always be looking for the best backpack blower....

I would gladly pay a little more for possibly a slightly heavier, more thirsty blower since I don't put a ton of fuel through them anyway. Again, 1000 or more CFM with the reducer on the tube, and 200+ MPH.

I understand the BR500 is quieter and has a specific purpose, but there's too many models with similar performance. With all the years Stihl had after the first BR600 was avail to come up with a blower that would trump what was avail by other vendors, I think they came up short on the BR700 IMHO. All these blowers tend to overlap in performance at some point, granted the 700 has big CFM, but now how long will it take them to come up with a successor to the 700? I'm actually surprised with the specs on the EBZ8500/580BTS, the 700 came with such a low airspeed.

 

[vw_motorsports]

I have used and repaired all the big bowers including

Stihl BR600
Echo PB-770, 755
Shindaiwa EB802, 854
Kawasaki 63cc
Redmax/Husqvarna ebz8500, 580

and I have no allegiance to any brand...not a dealer.

The most powerful of the group is the Redmax/Husqvarna blowers. Blower has both CFM, and MPH. It's no contest....I'm not talking about the crap the manufactures say these blowers do in a lab. This is real world testing.

EBZ8500/580 Drawback is weight, much heavier than the Stihl. The Kawasaki and Echo 755 are the weakest of the group, older designs and it shows. The Echo PB-770 I find as the most efficient, for a 63cc engine, essentially the same as the 755 same piston, cylinder essentially the same, it really amazes how much air it can move.

The Shindaiwa's are the biggest let down, the 854 4-cycle runs like a Stihl BR600, fan is not as efficient as Stihl so output seems to be equal even though the 854 has a larger engine nad heavier. Same with the 802, this blower should crush every blower on the market but it has the old style fan...the Br600, ebz8500, pb-755/770 use what I call a radial/squirrel cage style fan. I can't understand why Shindaiwa hasn't taken the PB-770 fan/volute design and bolted it to that 78cc 2 cycle engine, or vice versa for Echo to use the big engine. In the 802, don't use cheap gas or you could blow the top of the piston above the ring land off on the exhaust side. I have pics...

I'm not a fan of the strato or 4 mix engines....not as reliable. Strato motors have a propensity for the rings to hang up in the transfers and ruin the engine....not just in bowers but all equipment. Cylinders get destroyed, you didn't see that with the common slug piston. IMO to many ports/transfers contribute to the ring becoming unsupported and moving so much that they squeeze out and whack it's over. The early 4-mix engines stunk, dropped valves/seats etc. The new engines are much better but still require annual maintenance. If you want the most reliable blower I would say the Echo or kawasaki does it...properly maintained you'll wear out the chrome plating in the cylinder or rings before it dies. Again, why not Nikasil???

In closing, For the most powerful blower the husqvarna 580 is a better blower than the ebz8500. It comes down to better ergonomics. The 580bfs in particular uses the same hip controls, engine, tubes etc. But the straps are nicer, the backpad is padded, nylon covered, instead of the foam rubber backpad in the redmax. Finally the addition of a chest strap and a lap belt make it great for doing trails or areas where you have to pick up and move objects. With the additional straps the 580 stays put while the redmax will try and slide off your shoulders.

If you disagree that's fine and I don't care so please lets keep the flaming to a minimum.

Hope this helps....Good Luck

 

[ANewSawyer]

Muff modded EB802rt turning 7,700k good enough for me! I don't have to have the best but it should do what I need. I can replace the fan, if it gives out.

And I agree that Stihl dropped the ball on the BR700.

 

[vw_motorsports]

Muff modded EB802rt turning 7,700k good enough for me! I don't have to have the best but it should do what I need. I can replace the fan, if it gives out.

Is your carb adjustable or did you re-jet it?

 

[ANewSawyer]

The factory carb is high low adjustable with a micro d driver, which I am ordering off amazon. I have a $15 chinese carb on it, which is also fully adjustable. I put a half inch hole in the mufflers deflector plate. I don't actually know what the upper limit of the rpms is, could probably push it up some more by opening that hole. I haven't leaned it out that much. It is four stroking at around 7400k. Leans out at the upper 7700k. Manual states that the power rpm is 7500. I see that the 580 BTs has a four bolt fan mount, so does the EB802. Who is up for a hybrid?!

 

[vw_motorsports]

If you don't mind can you PM the link for the micro D tool. I have a micro D, but partially damaged the tip. I filed it square but I'd like to get another. My local dealers are scared to death to sell me one, even though they can have the old one if Echo wants it returned.

I modded my 580bfs, I did the .085 main jet upgrade then stepped up the jet, then a muffler mod. It's a pain with the fixed jet but workable...plus the jets are cheap.

The 755 fan uses a 4 bolt as well but I believe the bolt hole circumference was different. I think the Shiny is a smaller dia bolt pattern

 

[vw_motorsports]

using the redmax fan might be doable, I did a 560bts with a 580 engine, with the 560 fan, the 580 carb ran very rich because the 560 fan didn't have the cfm's of the 580 fan...I was able to install the 580 fan in a 560 volute but had to use a 580 hub. The only issue you have to be careful about is making sure there is enough air going over the cylinder so it doesn't overheat.

 

[ANewSawyer]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUSQVARNA-F...060421?hash=item43e9f69605:g:g3IAAOSwuAVWxfjc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shindaiwa-E...651363?hash=item2ef36f4563:g:lBkAAOSwMtxXvLMZ

For comparison. I think the pattern is larger on the 802 fan. Hard to tell though. Maybe some tech wizard could figure out the size based on number of pixels. I am not that good.

 

[vw_motorsports]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HUSQVARNA-F...060421?hash=item43e9f69605:g:g3IAAOSwuAVWxfjc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shindaiwa-E...651363?hash=item2ef36f4563:g:lBkAAOSwMtxXvLMZ

For comparison. I think the pattern is larger on the 802 fan. Hard to tell though. Maybe some tech wizard could figure out the size based on number of pixels. I am not that good.

but you can see the difference in fan design

 

[ANewSawyer]

Yes, I can. I don't know if it would work or not. The shindaiwa has some reinforcement on the back which the husky lacks. I don't know if the reinforcement moves enough any air to matter or not.

 

[Husky187]

No thanks. Same engine, but heavier blower. More volume, but significantly less velocity.

- How come you never considered the Husky at the beginning of the shootout? I only have time to read through the first 12 pages...

 

[gmcman]

- How come you never considered the Husky at the beginning of the shootout? I only have time to read through the first 12 pages...

I want to speculate he would have, but that blower wasn't available in 2011...

 

[Rockjock]

We are sold out of the BR700 and that speaks volumes. The landscapers that buy it are not second guessing the purchase. For the vast majority of our customers there is no comparison.. it is all about service and getting the blower back in action. For us No company can boast parts next day other than Stihl. I have run both blowers quite a bit, I have no blown many leaves but have demoed it by blowing zero turn batteries across the shop floor. That pretty much gets the wallets to open up.