Leaf blower

[nrc]

Can anyone recommend an electric leaf blower?

We've replaced a lot of the landscape rock around our pool and I'd like to keep it from getting filled with leaves and debris. I'd prefer electric if it can do the job since I have horrible luck with two stroke engines.

[G.]

I have a 4-stroke Ryobi trimmer with a blower, edger, and cultivator attachment.

It works very well, but unless you know the trick, you cannot start the damn thing.

You need to fully choke it, throttle open, prime it, and pull until you get a "pop". Then you need to move the choke to about 2/3 and start it. I can start it in 2 pulls, but it never starts on one unless it is fully warmed up.

It's needy like that.

I also have a Toro electric blower/vac, but to be honest, I only use it to clean the dryer vent.

I push through a fish tape, attach a piece of aluminum screen to it, pull through, then duct tape the blower to the exhaust duct to clean it out completely.

I'm needy like that.

[indyfan31]

Sorry Boss, I burned up two electric string trimmers and a leaf blower before replacing both with gas-powered units. I'm done with the "green" solutions.

[KLang]

I've got an old electric Toro blower/vac we use once or twice a year for sucking up pecan leaves out of the flower gardens. Works OK. Also have an ECHO gas model for regular blowing. Highly recommend the ECHO.

I've switched to Stihl for trimmer, edger and chain saw. Also highly recommended.

[nrc]

I don't care about "green", I just don't want to deal with hard starts and fuel/oil mixtures. I looked in a couple of stores for four-cycle gas and found nothing. Looks like there are some pretty good four cycle options out there.

[emjaya]

Honda make a nice little four-stroke blower. http://powerequipment.honda.com.au/Blowers/HHB25.

[High Sided]

i used an eletric toro blower vac for 5 years without problems when i kept up the grounds where i was living as part of my rent. the honda looks nice but you could buy 7 of these toro's for the price of the honda.
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51599-Variable-Speed-Electric-Impeller/dp/B000H1Y4EK
http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/toro-electric-leaf-blower.jpg

[Elmo T]

The 2-cycle motors have driven me crazy - but I learned to apply the same rules at home as we use in the FD. Follow the starting guidelines exactly (not one more or one less push on the primer), keep them clean, and run them frequently. They should always start within the 3rd pull.

I have a Craftsman 2-cycle blower I picked a couple years ago. As long as I follow the above, it starts on the third pull every time.

I have not had the same luck with the Craftsman trimmers though :irked:. The motors are wonky and/or I have trouble with the line feed.

[KLang]

i used an eletric toro blower vac for 5 years without problems when i kept up the grounds where i was living as part of my rent. the honda looks nice but you could buy 7 of these toro's for the price of the honda.
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51599-Variable-Speed-Electric-Impeller/dp/B000H1Y4EK
http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/toro-electric-leaf-blower.jpg

That is the electric that I have, probably 15-20 years old and the design looks the same.

[dando]

The 2-cycle motors have driven me crazy - but I learned to apply the same rules at home as we use in the FD. Follow the starting guidelines exactly (not one more or one less push on the primer), keep them clean, and run them frequently. They should always start within the 3rd pull.

I have a Craftsman 2-cycle blower I picked a couple years ago. As long as I follow the above, it starts on the third pull every time.

I have not had the same luck with the Craftsman trimmers though :irked:. The motors are wonky and/or I have trouble with the line feed.

My Craftsman gas blower has been bullet proof (kiss of death), but I'm now on my second gas trimmer (Featherlite) and about to get a third. :saywhat: I think the issue is with the spark plugs, which I can never seem to remove to replace them. First one last ~5 years and the second started having starting issues in the second year (now the third).

nrc, the fuel/oil mixture shouldn't be an issue...simply buy a 1-gallon gas can and the oil is sold for 1 gallon and includes Stabil. As an alternative, I bought a B&D cordless trimmer earlier this year, and it has performed better than I expected, but I would recommend a second battery if you use them for more than an hour and a half.

-Kevin

[SteveH]

That is the electric that I have, probably 15-20 years old and the design looks the same.

Have the same, works great. Particularly like the vaiable speed motor. If blowing around stone, mulch etc. you dial down the speed.

[Andrew Longman]

Old electric Toro here. It was my Dad's for years before he moved into assisted living. Works fine. Powerful. Just don't like that it always finds a way to become unplugged.:saywhat:

[nrc]

i used an eletric toro blower vac for 5 years without problems when i kept up the grounds where i was living as part of my rent. the honda looks nice but you could buy 7 of these toro's for the price of the honda.
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51599-Variable-Speed-Electric-Impeller/dp/B000H1Y4EK
http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/toro-electric-leaf-blower.jpg

Interesting. At that price with vacuum attachments included that's probably worth a shot before popping for a full gonzo four stroke.

Seems like trimmers are generally a pain. Whenever I do landscaping I try to make sure I never need to use a trimmer because they're such a pain in the butt.

A one gallon can may have saved me some hassle because I think I botched the mix once upon a time and probably fouled the plug on the trimmer. I had a smaller can for the string trimmer because I didn't use it that often.

[racer2c]

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/outdoor-tools/backyard-battle-gas-vs-electric-lawn-tools?src=rss#fbIndex1

Popular Mechanics - Backyard Battle: Gas vs. Electric Lawn Tools

[nrc]

Ordered. I feel secure in the knowledge that if it sucks I'll have someone to blame it on. Wait, it does suck. :gomer:

Seriously, #1 leaf blower on Amazon with lots of positive reviews, seems like a good recommendation. Thanks.