[munderhill]

I need, well..... want a more powerful blower for fall and have gone back and forth between walk behind and backpack.
I had a Little Wonder (5HPSHO) walk behind and was a fine machine, powerful etc. Sold when re-located.
Have been shopping for another one and have looked at L.Wonder, G.Vac, Fradan, Peco, B.Goat, Parker.
Every dealer I go to tells me the same thing, get a back pack.

I'm just about convinced to go back pack now. Easier to store, very powerful ones offered etc. I tried one on my back at Agway last night and was not near as bad as I was expecting. It was the BR600.
I know they will not blow near as much cfm as a (9-10HP) walk behind, but mph air flow speed is respectable. Manuverability is way better and did I mention storage space.:fing32:
I would like to come up with a way to get it onto my back easier, any ideas?

Let me know what you all think. Good, Bad, Ugly, gimmie it all.

Oh, it is half the price of a comparable walk behind too. Leaves enough to get the edger and paddle attachments for the FS110R!:dunno:
But that is not the deciding factor.
I also will not have too many leaves as I cut almost all the trees in the yard. The WH I just bought with the peco vac will be a huge help. I also have a hand held Stihl blower too that is quite powerfull. It was the top of the line a couple years ago. SH85 model.

MU

 

[ENafziger]

I recently got a BR600 and couldn't be happier with it!!! I certainly makes the Poulan backpack I had look like a toy. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

--Eric

 

[munderhill]

Thank You for the input.
How long have you gone with it on your back at one time? was told by 1 user that after 30 minutes it became heavy.

I've used my Brothers Echo for much longer and was fine, not sure what model his is but is a pro backpack series. I was not impressed with the blowing power though. Might not have been running properly either. :dunno:



MU

 

[Marcintosh]

Thank You for the input.
How long have you gone with it on your back at one time? was told by 1 user that after 30 minutes it became heavy.

I've used my Brothers Echo for much longer and was fine, not sure what model his is but is a pro backpack series. I was not impressed with the blowing power though. Might not have been running properly either. :dunno:
MU

I've got the BR600 and I've had it for a number of years. I'll run a full tank out and go back for another fueling.
It's comfortable for long use. I always use Ear Defenders (Stihl's) no matter what machine I'm on/using.

The key to blowers isn't the hp or the wind speed per se. It's the volume of air and the Stihl BR600 moves more air than any other backpack blower currently made - period. They've got better fan engineering, plain and simple.

I use it for moving the grass clippings to the compost pile and I use it for the leaves on two properties. One of which is over two acres. In over three years I've done NO maintenance to this machine. It always starts and runs flawlessly. It lives in an unheated shed, not on a trailer so it's at least covered. Living in CT, I use it on leaves until it snows and I put it away, since our snow season is fairly short, I just run it out of fuel OR fill it with the Stihl factory fuel oil mix.

If you get the Stihl and don't like it then you will want to move to a wheeled machine. I keep hearing rumors of a larger Stihl an 80 or 90 cc engine but I'll believe it when I see it.

To put it on, I use the tailgate of my Blazer to start it and then strap up. I also can just give it a lift and swing to put it on but it's far less stressful off the tailgate. You could use the picnic table to fuel, start and then, to mount it as well. When it was new, I bemoaned the near impossibility of starting it when it was already strapped on but now I'm just more careful when switching from locked on to variable :fing32: and I don't accidentally shut it down.

My wife uses it as well. After the first time she told me to chuck the hand helds and never buy another as she wouldn't use them any more. IOW's it's a well balanced machine and the pads and strapping is well placed and engineered. I've got to climb some ledge outcroppings and a stone wall and around a retention pond while using the blower and balance is never a problem.

I paid a lot for it and I've never regretted a bit of it. If it got stolen tonight I'd buy another exact same one on Monday but that's the way I feel about all my Stihl gear. I have never owned any machines that are as reliable as a Stihl. I spend a lot of time using the blower so this has been a bit long but I owned about 4 different types and brands and was never satisfied till I bought the Stihl. I think you'd be pleased too.

 

[rscurtis]

If you don't need the absolute power of the 600, the BR500 is a nice, quiet, alternative. I used to rent them- they were bulletproof and even the novice user had no trouble starting one.

 

[Onan18]

What's funny is when the BR430 was in initial testing, it was outperforming the BR600 in every way and Stihl did something to tune it back to be less powerful than the 600. I wish I knew what they did, and how to turn it back up, I know a-lot of landscapers that would pay BIG $$$ for a two stroke backpack stronger than the 600 Stihl or 8000 RedMax.

Joe

 

[Hugh-SS/16]

Murray, I think you know how I feel about the BR600

 

[munderhill]

Marcintosh,
Thank you very much for the review and suggestion to getting it on/off easily. Gives me a great idea for both storage and getting it on my back. Just going to build a little shelf in my shed just for it.
I have also heard the same about air volume and fan design, you're spot on to what I've researched:fing32:.
I feel the same about Stihl equipment and I guess that why everything I buy now is the Brand. Changed from ECHO (string trimmer and blower) and will not go back. Their chainsaws (pro models) are very fine saws.
Thank you again, my decision made easier.

Hugh,
Yes I know exactly how you feel. Matt should be putting an order together for 1 of these and a couple other things. :thThumbsU
Then again you did say you have many in stock so i'll just wait until all is in.

Let me know when they're in.

rscurtis,
I did check the specs of all and the 600 is the lightest of them all and only a few bucks more. The 550 seems to utilize the same engine, I think.

MU

 

[ENafziger]

I've never carried mine for more than an hour at a time...it's just so efficient that I run out of things blow with it! It does a good job of drying off the dog after a bath, and I use it to dry things off quickly before I paint them too. It's also very effective at getting all the dust out of your old truck seats. In fact, everytime I put mine on my back, I find something else it's useful for!

--Eric

 

[munderhill]

Thanks,
I'm awaiting my Stihl order so I can pick it up along with edger attachment for my fs110R.
Now after your comments, I'm a bit more excited to get it:thThumbsU.

Thank You again.

MU

 

[notmYJ]

Having worn both a BR600 and the Husky 580 for long periods of time doing lawn clean ups, I will grab the 580 every chance I get now. Its way more comfortable, and seems to blow more. Plus its a true 2 stroke, no valves to adjust. I use my equipment to make a living, and am not brand loyal. I have echo, husky, stihl and kawasaki. But when it comes to blowers, the 580 is my top choice...

 

[CADplans]

The Magnum 600 is amazing, I have had mine almost a week, and have run it daily.

In previous years, I have used the mower and a snow blade to move leaves, no more.

The Magnum 600 is the way to go.

BUT, I have a question, what type air filter does it have? :dunno:
I never worried about that before with a blower, but, this thing kicks up dust as I never thought possible.

I know that the filter will need service within a year.

The Magnum 600 is really fun when the wind is blowing, the neighbor gets all of my leaves!! :hide:

:ROF

 

[munderhill]

Glad you like yours as have said I'm very happy with mine. Have not had my filter off yet. I have kept the dust at a minimum as I'm lucky to have mostly grass, not too many dirt spots.

Let us know what you find once you service yours.

MU

 

[CADplans]

Glad you like yours as have said I'm very happy with mine. Have not had my filter off yet. I have kept the dust at a minimum as I'm lucky to have mostly grass, not too many dirt spots.

Let us know what you find once you service yours.

MU

I was moving BIG (pickup size) piles of leaves down the gravel driveway, there was LOTS of dust.

Luckily, the wind was blowing, I just had to lift the leaves, the wind did the rest! :fing32:

The dust was lifted also, sometimes the swirls of wind brought the dust back to the blower and me.

 

[damoose]

I don't know what kind it is (haven't had to do mine yet) but the manual says you close the choke,loosen the two screws above the gas cap and remove the filter cover.

 

[munderhill]

If I had to guess I'd say it's a dual type element like in my new MS362. The BR600 is professional grade as is saw. Stihl has made good improvements on filtration from what I've seen on saws and blowers.

MU

 

[munderhill]

Had the BR out yesterday and wanted to see for myself what type the filter is.
here is a picture. Still clean like new even after oh, about 5 hours or so.

MU

 

[steddy]

Thanks a lot. Now you done made me go out and buy one for myself.
Impressive to say the least.

 

[rscurtis]

Resist the normal urge to over-service Stihl air filters. Most of their products are equipped with a compensating system in the carburetor to allow for filter restriction. Run the filter until the machine won't produce full power any more and then change it.

 

[CADplans]

Resist the normal urge to over-service Stihl air filters. Most of their products are equipped with a compensating system in the carburetor to allow for filter restriction. Run the filter until the machine won't produce full power any more and then change it.

I talked to the dealer about the air filter, he said if you run it in dusty conditions, a lot, you should change the filter yearly.

That means I will never need to change it!! :fing32:

Anymore, I do not do ANYTHING a lot! :sidelaugh