Disappointment: Stihl BR 600

[husky46cc]

Yesterday I bought a Stihl BR 600 backpack blower from the local dealership. It replaced my fantastic but aging Redmax EBZ. The Stihl is a big disappointment. It's not as powerful. My question to this forum is, what is the most powerful backblower you have ever encountered? I'm going back to the dealership today to see what my options are. Do I request a full refund and then buy the highly rated Echo blower? Or do I trade in the BR 600 for the more powerful Stihl BR 800? Raw power is my only consideration.

 

[zord1995]

Hi,

Your 600 has 677 CFM, while the 800 will have 912 CFM, if you’re looking for more raw power, 800 is the way to go.

You will not be disappointed.

I am also bias, I am STIHl employee.

 

[lone wolf]

Yesterday I bought a Stihl BR 600 backpack blower from the local dealership. It replaced my fantastic but aging Redmax EBZ. The Stihl is a big disappointment. It's not as powerful. My question to this forum is, what is the most powerful backblower you have ever encountered? I'm going back to the dealership today to see what my options are. Do I request a full refund and then buy the highly rated Echo blower? Or do I trade in the BR 600 for the more powerful Stihl BR 800? Raw power is my only consideration.

Get the 800 we run two of them, very ergonomic and powerful. If power is your only consideration, get a stand on blower. https://www.scag.com/product/stand-on-blowers/windstorm/

 

[jimrb]

I have a BR800CE. I am not convinced having the pull starter available while wearing the blower is worth the extra 3 pounds. The C-E means easy to start while wearing. The 800 moves a lot of air. When I was looking, the Stihl 800 moved as much as any other vendors top of the line backpack blower. I got the blower during Covidstan and that was the only 800 series model they had in stock. I think if I were doing a do over I would get the BR800X just to save weight.

The ride on blowers take blowing to a larger volume.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’m happy with my BR600 and use it commercially.

That said, I am aware it is not the most powerful out there but I have found it to be the most reliable and with a bit of maintenance, the most long lived.

My only experience with blowers is the BR600, 800, 430, 450, and 420 as wel as the Echo PB700 as well Little Wonder and Billy Goat push blowers and Buffalo Turbine pull behind blowers. The PB700 and BR800 moved more air for the backpack blowers but were more finicky after a few hours were put on them.

 

[lone wolf]

I have a BR800CE. I am not convinced having the pull starter available while wearing the blower is worth the extra 3 pounds. The C-E means easy to start while wearing. The 800 moves a lot of air. When I was looking, the Stihl 800 moved as much as any other vendors top of the line backpack blower. I got the blower during Covidstan and that was the only 800 series model they had in stock. I think if I were doing a do over I would get the BR800X just to save weight.

The ride on blowers take blowing to a larger volume.

Agreed, you don't want extra weight.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

As Stihl fan, No way I’d buy another one until they figure out how to beat the echo 9010. That’s the strongest blower on the market still as far as I know. I had a br550 that I sold for an echo 770. I sold the 770 when the 9010 came out.

 

[ATH]

If raw power is your only concern, why did you even start with the BR600 over the BR800? That's like saying towing capacity is your only concern when buying a pickup and acting disappointed when a 1/2 truck won't pull as much as a 3/4 ton truck, no?

What are you wanting to blow? Leaves? Either will do well, but more air will move more leaves. Branches in thick grass? Both will move some, but both will likely also leave you disappointed.

 

[av8or3]

I bought the BR800X and love it. You won’t be disappointed with that one!

 

[Squidward]

I have both Stihl and Echo products., including Echo 7310, 2511T, 620 PW chainsaws; Stihl MS 460 (had); FarmBoss 290, mini tiller; auger and backpack blower.

Mine was most powerful backpack blower appox 5 yrs ago, believe it is an 800.

Stihl's dealer charged me to adjust valves while it was still under warranty, blamed use of 10% ethanol.

The blower has been a disappointment. Not the worst, but sometimes runs erratically, surging and dying. Then it will run better for a while. I've changed plug, cleaned screen, kept canned fuel mix in it. You do you, but I know I would buy an Echo blower if this one ever gave up ghost entirely.

Stihl IMHO made the engine needlessly complicated and that has resulted in a 4 cycle engine which needs periodic valve adjustments to run optimally.
If you think that is a good thing, you do you. I do not hate Stihl, but they kinda drove me toward the Echo camp. I told the dealer as much as I walked out the door after being charged a service fee on a machine that was still in its warranty period. Dealer chose not to believe me. Since then, I've purchased the Echo 7310, 2511T, 620 PW. I was not throwing a fit or being rude, just telling him the facts, that I did not buy that they could dodge the warranty and blame ethanol where I have run top tier premium branded gas and the Stihl premium mix. Gas in the US has ethanol unless you take extraordinary steps to find pure gas. If your machines are not designed to run on it, you, the Mfr., better come into the world as it is.

I would not buy the Stihl blower unless you tried an Echo, or unless you just concluded the Echo dealership network was not to your liking in your area.

Fair disclosure: after the blower experience, I also bought the Stihl auger and mintiller, though from a different dealer. They have been fairly trouble free, and seem well designed.

 

[KTM 350]

For basic landscaping and yard clean-up we use RedMax EBZ85**. Fall clean-up the ECHO 9010 moves more. BR800 did not last. Plastic and motor problems. The hole 4 cycle 2 stroke motor just added to the problems it can have. Same crews have used all three. No one wanted the 800. 9010 was to much for just blowing grass clippings and "heavy" . If I had to keep only one the RedMax . It has proven it's self over the years. 9010 is just not as "tough" and sucks down the fuel. Like a MS462 will do the job, But for more money MS500I will eat it up. In bigger wood and suck down the fuel.
Now if STIHL wants to made BR500i motor we would look hard.

 

[Marley5]

Have the Echo 770 can't imagine 9010 performance.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Have the Echo 770 can't imagine 9010 performance.

It’s amazing. My buddy that bought my 770 said the same thing you did.

 

[husky46cc]

OP here. I have news of the Stihl BR600 to share with the group. I know a person affiliated with Stihl. I got an extraordinary call in which I was entreated to stick with the BR600 and NOT upgrade to the BR800. I was told that service shops are seeing a great deal of problems with the 800's. Most interestingly, the side recoil starter rope was the biggest culprit. Apparently half of the 800 purchasers had brought them back, wanting to convert/trade to the traditional starter rope on the back. Too bad, I thought it was a good idea. But I'm definitely NOT going with the bigger BR800.

PS: Back story. For years I had an idealized image of the legendary BR600. Most reliable blower ever made, said all the contractors. One day I'd have one, I said. When I retired, that was the time. But just before I went to the Stihl place, I saw a Craigslist ad for a Redmax EBZ7500. ( i may have the last numbers wrong) . The seller wouldn't post an asking price, just said make an offer. Also said the Redmax was for parts cause he couldn't get it started. I offered $45 and he took it. Got it home, no spark. The kill wire was worn in two. Connected it. Fired right up. Incredibly strong. 5 years later it developed problems. Would begin to cut out and throttle down after 10 minutes. Local Stihl guy did a compression test: only 70 psi. Shot. Did a leak down test . Wouldn't hold 4 psi even for 10 seconds. Said it was shot. That's when I bought the BR600.
This Stihl guy is incredibly honest, a man of integrity and I trust him. I'm not bitter, angry, or anything else like that. I just want the power I had with that good old $45.00 Redmax. Stihl guy knows I'm disappointed, said to give the 600 a solid hour of use instead of just 10 minutes before I make final judgment. Also-there are no leaves to blow right now- they're underneath the snow. So I can't really tell yet. Next step: Go to the nearby Echo dealer. Strap on a 9010, see how it feels. Try one out for a second. (the owner has one.) Then come home, wait for warm weather and blow some leaves with the BR600.
If I don't like it, get the 9010. Sell the Stihl Br 600. I don't need limitless raw power. Just the power I'm used to with that old Redmax.