What's the best backpack blower on the market?

[bwalker]

10-Year Update:​

(9-year update)
(5-year update)
(3-year update)
(2-year update)
(1-year update)
(initial purchase October 2014)
(RedMax EBZ8500RH / Husqvarna 580 differences)

The RedMax EBZ8500RH (also sold as a Husqvarna 580) two-stroke backpack blower (recommended here as the most powerful backpack blower at the time) still starts and runs like new. It runs best with a 50:1 mix on Premium ethanol-free fuel, too much oil and it loses power. The one big (needed) change is cleaning and lubing all of the tube connections with SIL-Glyde--it's now easy to put together and take apart the tube sections.

The STIHL KombiSystem got some blades (1, 2) and is in over-all great shape with just the one rusted muffler bolt. I replaced some worn plastic inserts that hold the driveline in place; the STIHL dealer had the best price I could find. Otherwise I haven't replaced anything on it because it's still running well.

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Redmax blowers have always worked great for me.
BTW the carbs are tunable and will run well on any oil ratio you chose once tuned properly. The LS in particular is very lean on these from the factory.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Redmax blowers have always worked great for me.
BTW the carbs are tunable and will run well on any oil ratio you chose once tuned properly. The LS in particular is very lean on these from the factory.

Thank you for the tip. This one's plug looks like it's running a bit rich, and in 2-strokes I'm good with that.