In this category, we have a selection of leaf blowers, petrol and electric, backpack or knapsack blowers, powered vacuums, leaf collectors and more. Our product range is growing all the time.
As you know, I’m all for having the right machinery to make life easier, today we will take a quick look at the Ventrac ET200 turbine blower.
I always like to find quick, easy and efficient ways to carry out a job in the garden, it looks like the Ventrac ET200 turbine blower can do just this.
I appreciate that a machine like this is far too large for many people’s gardens, however, if you have a large garden or a contractor this could be a great machine.
Ventrac ET200 Turbine Blower
Ventrac ET200 Turbine Blower
One of the Ventrac ET200 turbine blower advantages is the fact that you have one power unit to operate multiple machines. The leaf blower attachment is just one of many attachments that we will feature in future posts.
As you can see further down on this page the ET 200 tractor turbine blower makes short work of moving leaves and debris around.
This turbine leaf blower is much quieter than the average conventional leaf blower. The ET200 tractor turbine blower can blow large volumes of air capable of moving large amounts of leaves, light snow, general debris across lawns, playing fields and car parks etc.
The nozzle can be turned around 360° making it exceptionally practical to blow leaves, the nozzle can be turned from the driver’s seat. You can even drive underneath trees and aim the air chute at a particular tree to blow any loose leaves off. This really is quite a handy feature. The leaf blowers has a bumper to protect the air chute, should it knock into any obstruction.
The Ventrac ET200 turbine blower is powered by a very compact and manoeuvrable articulated tractor power unit. There are four different engine models available which are all around the 30 hp mark.
I’ve always liked the idea of front-mounted machinery as you can easily see what you are doing. Front-mounted equipment also enables you to, for example. If you have a lawnmower attachment, you cut the grass before running over it with the tractor wheels.
Having an articulated machine makes the power unit almost the most manoeuvrable machine on the market. Combined with the front-mounted accessories this really is an efficient way to power machinery.
Ventrac Turbine Blower
Easy Attachment
Attaching the ET200 Ventrac blower is very simple due to the Ventrac mount system. This system enables you to attach the accessory quickly and efficiently and then to move onto the next job.
To attach a machine simply drive up to the attachment, line up the hitch arms and then close the locking lever. Make sure and turn off the engine and walked to the front of your machine.
Then attach the auxiliary hydraulic hoses which power the blower rotational chute. These are colour-coded, so you cannot attach the hose is the wrong way around. Connect the 12 V electrics, these can vary from each individual attachment. Then connect the power take-off, once again this can vary slightly between the various attachments.
You Can See The Ventrac Blower Working Below
To Conclude
Over the years I have owned many various machines, most of these machines have been individual power units. I really like the idea of having a versatile power unit that powers various implements, it’s also a cheaper option in the long run. One power unit, many accessories!
One of the many problems with ride-on machines is the poor manoeuvrability. However, with articulated steer and front-mounted accessories, this machine really becomes a compact power unit.
If you’re looking for a powerful budget low-priced knapsack leaf blower, then the Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower could be your answer.
For me, a leaf blower is the most used piece of equipment that I use in the garden, I literally use a leaf blower every week. For my tree stump grinding business, I almost use my Stihl backpack blower on every job, it’s a really quick way of clearing up! Leaf blowers have to be one of the most time-saving devices for gardeners, arborists and landscapers.
The Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower is a low-priced budget backpack leaf blower. This leaf blower presently has an £80 saving that brings it to the low price of £169. As I often mention in my blog posts, always try and buy the best equipment that you can afford. We all have to have a budget we can’t always buy the best and most expensive.
However, the Feider 2 stroke Backpack Leaf Blower offers powerful leaf blowing at a cheap price. With a manufacturer’s warranty of two years, you can buy this budget leaf blower with confidence. The Feider range of garden machinery offers a decent piece of equipment at an excellent price.
Search eBay For Leaf Blowers
With a 52 cc two-stroke engine, the Feider Backpack Leaf Blower quickly blows leaves and debris into the right places. With an engine of this capacity, you will be able to achieve an excellent work rate. The 52cc Feider two-stroke engine develops 3.2 hp, it comes with a transparent fuel tank making fuel checks easy.
With a padded harness and anti-damping, something that I would particularly expect on a budget machine. This makes the Feider TD55 Backpack Leaf Blower are very comfortable and easy leaf blowers to use. When you use a machine that is comfortable, the work rate goes up!
With a variable speed throttle and cruise control which enables you to lock the throttle in one position. With the variable speed, it makes the job easier meaning that you to the surface and type debris or leaves that you are moving.
Features
• A low-priced premium knapsack petrol leaf blower.
• Powerful 52cc two-stroke engine.
• Padded harness, vibration damping and cruise control.
• Transparent fuel tank, making it clear and easy to see fuel levels.
• Variable speed controls which offers great flexibility.
• Two-year warranty
Specification
Type Of Engine Petrol 2-stroke
Engine Capacity 52cc
Power 3.2hp / 2.4kW
Starting System Recoil
Air Flow Volume 1080m3/hr
Sound Level 96dB (A)
Weight 8kg
Warranty 2 Years
I recently came across, what looks to be a great piece of machinery, the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand on Power Unit. This is basically a stander zero turn mower which can take various attachments. According to Toro there are up to 10 different attachments available, I will go through the various attachments further on in this post.
As we know quality machinery isn’t cheap to purchase, we need to make the most out of our investment and purchase wisely. Over the years I’ve owned many different machines and I’ve often thought it’s a shame we can’t have one versatile power unit to power all of our machines. I know this is easier said than done, however, I believe that Toro may have partly fulfilled this dream.
About 12 years ago I purchased a Ferris 5061 inch zero turn lawnmower, it was great machine a friend of mine still using this zero turn commercially. If I remember correctly I paid £10,000 for this machine, it was an ex-demonstration model with about 80 hours on the clock. I think the list price at the time was about £20,000 for a brand-new machine, they are not cheap!
I always thought it would be a great idea if I could use this zero turn lawnmower to power other machinery. It seems like Toro have the answer, so let’s have a look at this machine.
Kohler EFI Engine
Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit
The Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is powered by a Kohler Command 26.5 hp 747cc EFI petrol engine. It is basically a stand on zero turn mower that takes a 60 inch cutting width deck. A smaller cutting deck is available. I’ve never actually owned a stander lawnmower, however, I have owned a walk-behind and ride-on zero-turn mowers. I really like the idea of the stander lawnmower for easy access. They certainly seem to be very popular at the moment.
Find Toro Grandstand Multi-Force On eBay
It is great that the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is able to do so many tasks. If you have not used a zero-turn lawnmower before, they are, in my opinion the most manoeuvrable and versatile machines on the market.
The Zero Turn Advantage
A zero turn lawn mower is powered by two hydraulic motors, the two individual motors are attached to the rear wheels individually. The two hydraulic motors are powered by a hydraulic pump which gives you instant forward and reverse on each rear wheel.
At the front of the machine there are two heavy duty caster wheels that can turn 360° which helps with the superb manoeuvrability.
Most zero turn lawnmowers are controlled by two levers, although there are a few zero terms that now offer a steering wheel. I haven’t actually used a zero-turn lawnmower with a steering wheel, however, I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has used this type of machine.
With the lever -type zero turn mowers, you simply have instant forward and reverse on each wheel. This means that the lawnmower can literally turn around on a sixpence. In my view, zero turn lawn mowers are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market. They are perfect for negotiating around shrubs, flower borders and trees, you are literally cutting continually with a zero-turn.
Just one thing with a zero turn mower, care needs to be taken when turning sharply as you can tear the turf if you’re not careful. With care practice, damaged the turf can almost be eliminated.
Grandstand-Pro-Force-Blower
Removing The 60 Inch Cutter Deck
I wondered how straightforward it would be to remove the cutter deck and to add various accessories. However, from watching the video, it looks like Toro have made removing the cutter deck, really quite straightforward.
To remove the cutting deck, simply place to pieces of wood 2 x 4 underneath the cutting deck, this just helps to take the weight of the cutting deck. Then remove the pin from the deck adjustment lever simply low the lever so that the cutting deck rests on the two pieces of wood. Then you need to replace the pin to stop the deck lever springing back. After this there are eight bolts to remove and your cutting deck is removed.
Accessories For The Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower
One of the best things about the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit is that you can literally use this machine all year round for multiple tasking.
Grandstand-Pro-Force-Blower
Blower Attachment
The blower attachment looks like a great piece of machinery. I wrote a blog post a few days ago about the Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower. This really is a great piece of kit.
Once you have removed the cutting deck you can now attach the Turbine Pro Force Blower. The blower fits on a kickstand which helps to attach the blower in a straightforward way. There are two small wheels on the kickstand. Simply loosely attach the belt to the pulley and then lift the blower up and it will lock in position. The belt will then automatically be tensioned and ready for use. Then remove the two pins and flipped the guard over for the working position.
The Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit has a quick attach hydraulic hose system which enables attachments to be fitted quickly. It literally takes a couple of minutes to attach the Turbine Pro Force Blower. Once the blower is fitted you are ready to put the wind up those autumn leaves!
The blower develops 7800 CFM at full throttle, that’s quite a bit of air. The air chute can be moved hydraulically 360° this will enable you to move the debris where you want it to go and give you total control over the airflow.
Now let’s move on to winter……
The Boss Dozer Blade
Moving on to winter the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit has a boss dozer blade that can be used to clear snow. The blade is 5 foot wide and made of poly with no rusting and no scratches!
Toro Grandstand Multiforce All Season Plow
Attaching The Blade
The boss dozer blade or plough is easily attached to the power unit, it comes with a stand which makes for easy fitting. The machine has an easy fit system that has one hydraulic ram for up-and-down. And two more hydraulic rams for left and right control. Once again you have the quick attach hydraulic pipes to control the hydraulic rams.
LED Light Kit
There is an optional LED light kit that goes together with the blade or clearing plough. So when the days are short you aren’t restricted by daylight. There is a flashing light that can be fitted to this machine.
Tyres
Snow tyres are available for this machine or if you prefer to stick with the regular grass tyres all year round. Then there is an optional weight box to give you that extra traction in the winter.
With speeds of up to 10 mph, you will be clearing snow, cutting grass and blowing leaves very quickly and efficiently.
Grandstand Multiforce Broom
Power Broom
The power broom is used to move snow, clear leaves and debris and dethatch lawns. There is a hydraulic kit that gives greater speeds to the power broom. This can pump up to 15 gallons of oil a minute. This gives speeds of up to 250 rpm on the actual broom. If you need to slow the broom down slightly, just reduce the revs on the throttle.
The low-flow hydraulic system powers the three hydraulic rams, very similar to the dozer blade. The hydraulic rams give you a up and down movement and left-to-right movement for maximum versatility.
Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand on Power Unit
Bagging Kit
There is a bagging kit that fits on the side of the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force Stand On Power Unit. The bagging kit offers good manoeuvrability and 10 ft³ collection capacity.
Scarifier And Aerator Attachment
There is also a scarifier and aerator attachment, another great plus point for looking after your lawn.
To Conclude
Good commercial machinery is not cheap. I really like the idea of having one power unit that can do multiple tasks. One thing is for sure that the zero turn concept makes this machine exceptionally manoeuvrable. I think this is an ideal machine for contractors and large gardens, a machine that can work all year round.
Flymo Garden Vac 2700 Garden Leaf Vacuum and Blower
Today we are going to look at the subject of, how much is an electric leaf blower? This is a question that I am often asked about. I wrote an article a few days ago on, how much is a petrol leaf blower? We will start with our very cheapest electric leaf blower and gradually move up the scale including more expensive electric leaf blowers. We will also be including rechargeable battery leaf blowers which seem to be moving up the ladder in popularity very quickly.
As you know I like to use a decent powered garden and landscaping equipment. I much prefer a machine with an internal combustion engine on, however, I appreciate for some people this just isn’t practical or affordable.
Mains electric or rechargeable battery-powered?
Something that I have always disliked with mains electric equipment is the inconvenience of a power cable. I find the power cable very restrictive and something that always catching up objects like flower pots and shrubs!
I know of so many people who have cut through their electric power cable with electric lawnmowers and hedge cutters. This is not something you want to do with a hedge cutter when you are on a step ladder! However, modern-day power tools offer good protection with power breakers and sensitive trip switches. The other option is to look at our range of rechargeable leaf blowers.
Electric Leaf Blowers
Electric leaf blowers are cheaper to buy than similar battery powered models as the batteries can be expensive on the rechargeable models. Some of the mains electric leaf blower models really do offer quite a bit of blown power. As many of the manufacturers have just placed a cheap powerful electric motor (compared with a two-stroke engine) which gives plenty of blowing power!
I think the biggest issue for me with an electric leaf blower is the trailing power cable, this is where a rechargeable leaf blower could be useful.
Rechargeable Leaf Blowers
A rechargeable leaf blower offers more flexibility than the traditional mains electric leaf blower. However, rechargeable leaf blowers are limited to how long they can run for. The average runtime seems to be around 20 to 30 minutes for a battery-powered leaf blower. There are the more powerful Stihl models which have greater battery life.
It may be worth considering purchasing a spare battery so you have a spare available to keep the workflow going. Just remember that rechargeable batteries can be quite expensive. So you need to weigh up the costs before purchasing.
I haven’t had huge amounts of experience with rechargeable garden tools. However, recently I was working with a gang of tree surgeons and they had several Stihl rechargeable tools and they were very impressed indeed. I must admit they were certainly very quiet indeed. This is something that is worth thinking about if you are in a built-up area or an area where there are noise restrictions.
The Handy 2600w Garden Blow & Vac
Handy 2600W Garden Blow & Vac
The Handy 2600w Garden Blow & Vac is our cheapest mains electric leaf blower and vacuum, priced at just £40. It comes with a powerful 2600 W electric motor and has three function’s, it blows, it shreds, and it collects! The leaf shredding is 10:1 which is pretty good.
The Handy 2600w Garden Blow & Vac comes with a 35 L collection bag, 6 m of electric cable and a shoulder strap. This leaf blower is very light at just 4.5 kg.
Moving up the scale to our second cheapest leaf blowers is the Cobra BV2600 Electric Powered Blower Vacuum, priced at just £45.99. Once again this is a very cheap price for this particular leaf blower.
The Cobra BV2600 Electric Powered Blower Vacuum he is powered by a 2600 W electric motor, which gives plenty of blowing power. It has the feature of mulching, which therefore means more vacuuming and less emptying. The leaf blower has a large 45 L collection bag. It’s very easy to change from blowing mode to vacuum mode.
Flymo Garden Vac 2700 Garden Leaf Vacuum and Blower
Flymo Garden Vac 2700 Garden Leaf Vacuum and Blower
We are now moving up the scale to the popular Flymo Garden Vac 2700 Garden Leaf Vacuum and Blower. This is not a leaf blower that I have used, however, I know several people who use them, and they are popular for the smaller garden where a petrol model isn’t required. This leaf blower sells for £74.99
This Flymo leaf blower has a slightly larger 2700 W electric motor, which is slightly more than our two previous models. This model can easily be changed from blower mode to vacuum mode. It has a generous collection bag at 40 L and the maximum blowing speed is 212 km an hour.
The Flymo Garden Vac 2700 Garden Leaf Vacuum and Blower is lightweight, weighing just 5.1 kg. It comes with the manufacturers one year warranty.
Now we are going upmarket considerably with the Stihl BGE71 Electric Hand Held Garden Blower, which sells for £99.99. Stihl have been making machinery for the garden, landscaping and forestry industry since 1926. They are probably the market leaders for professionals in the UK and maybe the world, especially when it comes to, chainsaws, hedge cutters, strimmers and blowers.
Although the Stihl BGE71 Electric Hand Held Garden Blower it is more expensive than our previous models it is not actually so powerful. However, you can buy knowing that you have a quality product that will give you many hours of service.
The Stihl BGE71 Electric Hand Held Garden Blower it is a very lightweight leaf blower, weighing in at just 3 kg, it is lighter than our three previous leaf blowers. It is powered by a 1100 watt mains electric motor.
There is an optional vacuum attachment that can be purchased if required. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I don’t normally use the vacuuming feature as I find it much quicker to blow and then collect the leaves and debris by hand. The other alternative for collecting leaves is with a wheeled vacuum or a rotary mower with a collector on. Obviously, you cannot pick up leaves with a rotary lawnmower on gravel driveways, or where there are stones and rocks etc.
It runs off a 24 V rechargeable battery which gives a 20 minute blowing time. It may be worth thinking about purchasing a second battery for extra time as charging takes approximately two hours. There is actually an eco-mode which will give your battery a few more minutes, in fact up to 65 minutes!
Rechargeable garden equipment is becoming very popular at the moment. Cobra also makes a battery strimmer and hedge cutter in their range of equipment.
The weight of this leaf blowers is just 1.7 kg, which is very light indeed. It comes with the manufacturers two-year warranty which includes the battery and charger.
Now we are moving right up the ladder to the Stihl BGA 85 Cordless Leaf-Blower. This is almost in another category as it is a quality product that will give you long service. This leaf blower does not come with a battery, however, if you have other Stihl rechargeable equipment, the batteries are compatible. Long-term, this makes the Stihl tools cheaper by just having one charging unit and a few batteries, depending on how much you’re using the machine.
Please note that some battery machinery can be very underpowered, the Stihl BGA 85 Cordless Leaf-Blower certainly has plenty of power. It is powered by a choice of lightweight and long-lasting 36v lithium-ion batteries developing an impressive 4 or 6Ah.
This Stihl leaf blower has a variable speed airflow which is ideal when you’re in confined spaces. It comes with the manufacturers two-year warranty.
I’m often asked the question, “how much is a petrol leaf blower”. People are often pleasantly surprised when I tell them how cheap you can buy a petrol leaf blower for!
Our Cheapest Leaf Blower
Our cheapest blower is currently the Parker petrol leaf blower, this leaf blower, mulcher and vacuum, it sells for just £79.99, it has recently been reduced by £10. It actually amazes me how cheap they can make this petrol leaf blower for.
I would always recommend buying the best machine that you can afford, but sometimes we don’t have a choice to buy the best. A few years ago I purchased an orbital sander for some do-it-yourself work, I’m not really a do-it-yourself person, or certainly not in the home! However, we were re-decorating the house from top to bottom and to be fair this orbital sander done the job very well indeed and I have no complaints.
I think because I work in the landscape industry and professionally, I always like to try and have the best machine in a particular category. The Parker blower will probably do the job, but you also stand a chance of having a few problems in my opinion, it’s a risk you take.
I did read an article of a contractor buying a Parker blower and apparently it served him well, especially, taking the cost into consideration.
Our second cheapest petrol leaf blowers is the Chipperfield PRO EBV260 Petrol Blower-Vac which sells for £99.95, which again is an amazing price for a petrol leaf blower.
I believe this is a fairly new petrol leaf blower to the market, however, looking at the reviews, they appear to be very positive.
The Chipperfield PRO EBV260 Petrol Blower-Vac is powered by a 25.4cc air-cooled two-stroke engine, which develops 0.9 hp. With an at a glance 0.65 L transparent fuel tank, you can easily see how much fuel is left in the tank.
It’s always good to use a lightweight and comfortable blower; the Chipperfield Pro petrol leaf blower weighs just 6.5 kg. It comes complete with a adjustable rubber grip shoulder strap that takes the weight off your arms and makes operating much easier.
Airflow is excellent on the Chipperfield leaf blower which has a tapered nozzle which helps to increase the airflow, by forcing the airflow into one place. It also has rubber mounts which protect it when the leaf blowers is placed on the ground with the engine running.
Vacuum mode
This petrol blower vac can be used as a vacuum, it comes with a generous 30 L collection bag. Allegedly, the manufacturer claims that it can reduce the size of the waste by 80%. I guess this depends on how dry the material is as this will make a huge difference in efficiency. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts I always find it much quicker to use these leaf blowers as blowers rather than vacuums. To me, it is far quicker to blow your debris into a heap and then collect it manually.
Features
A high-quality but remarkably low-priced blower-vac for all your garden clear-up needs
3-in-1 design – blows, vacuums and mulches
Powerful but highly efficient 2-stroke engine with an easy-read transparent fuel-tank
Mulching capability saves space in the collector a makes debris simple to dispose of
Well balanced with a rubber-grip and shoulder-harness – comfortable and easy to handle
Tapering nozzle for high-performance blowing
Rubber mounts prevent impact-damage when you set the blower down
Specification
A high-quality but remarkably low-priced blower-vac for all your garden clear-up needs
3-in-1 design – blows, vacuums and mulches
Powerful but highly efficient 2-stroke engine with an easy-read transparent fuel-tank
Mulching capability saves space in the collector a makes debris simple to dispose of
Well balanced with a rubber-grip and shoulder-harness – comfortable and easy to handle
Tapering nozzle for high-performance blowing
Rubber mounts prevent impact-damage when you set the blower down
Would I Buy One Of The Above Leaf Blowers?
So would I buy one of the above leaf blowers? This is a difficult question for me as I have generally used professional equipment and I like to use a quality product that will last me a long time.
Unfortunately, over the years I have seen people by terrible products for the garden which I know will not last for a long time. I also see people buying products that are not right for the garden and just makes the job very difficult indeed.
As with every purchase we make, budgeting and the cost is always of prime importance. I’ve always tried to go for the best machine that I can afford and also buy a machine which will give me many years of service and that has a good ready available parts backup.
When buying a budget machine I would always look at the reviews and the warranty. I know of many people who have brought budget machines and they have given several years of good service. It really comes down to how many hours you are going to use a machine for.
Stihl SH86CE Vacuum/Shredder
Going Upmarket
If you want to go upmarket, I can definitely recommend you something that will last and that is the STIHL BG 86 C-E Handheld Petrol Leaf Blower. I have owned this particular blower and used many of these leaf blowers over the years. I know of many contractors who use this particular Stihl leaf blower.
The STIHL BG 86 C-E Handheld Petrol Leaf Blower sells for £319, which is also much more expensive than our cheapest petrol leaf blower. However, I know that this leaflet I will give you many hours and years of trouble-free leaf blowing!
If you’re looking for a petrol leaf blower with a collection bag then another good choice is the STIHL SH 86-CE Vacuum Shredder. This petrol leaf blower sells for £369 which once again I appreciate is much more than our cheapest petrol leaf blower, vacuum.
Today we are looking at something slightly different, the Toro pro force series debris blower. I appreciate that this debris blower may not be the right machine for most gardeners, however, it is always good to see machinery in action, that makes life easier!
I am someone who likes to make gardening and landscaping easier, so I’m always looking at various types of machine. If there is a machine that can make life easier, I am all for it!
Toro Wireless Remote Control
Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower
The Toro pro force series debris blower as one of the most powerful machines on the market. It is powered by a 24.6 hp Kohler Command engine, with an electronic governor. The electronic governor sounds like a great idea as I have found on the Kohler engines the traditional governor can be a bit slow to react. The electronic governor should solve this issue. Having used Kohler engines for many years, I’ve noticed was the manual governor that sometimes they can be a bit slow to react you need more power. The range of Kohler EFI engines are now becoming more popular which gives increased efficiency and better governor control.
24.6 hp Kohler Engine
I think one of the main features of this blower is the fact that it has a “boys toy feature” the fact that it is radio remote. When I say radio remote, this is a towable machine, so the machine isn’t fully radio remote. However, the wireless radio remote allows you to stop and start the engine from the operator’s vehicle. You can adjust the throttle remotely up and down, from low to high revs and vice versa. It also allows you to adjust the blower nozzle 360° from the operator’s seat!
Electronic Governor
So, in other words, no jumping on and off the operator’s seat to make adjustments, which to me is a very practical feature indeed. I can never understand why manufacturers of ride-on lawnmowers want to have a series of bags to unload. When in theory you should just be able to stay in the operator seat and control everything from the operator’s seat. However, without going too much off track, I appreciate in some circumstances people may need to load the grass clippings into compost bins or something similar.
Heavy-Duty Trailer & Tow Hitch
Who Needs The Toro Pro Force Series Debris Blower?
Obviously, the Toro pro force series debris blower is more for large estates, golf courses, parks, etc rather than the average garden. However, if you have a garden with a few acres this could be very useful tool for blowing leaves, clearing pathways and driveways. The Toro blower could also be used after scarifying your lawn to blow the moss and thatch into large rows for collection.
What Do You Pull Your Toro Blower With?
The Toro pro force series debris blower is a towable machine which can be towed by the Toro WorkMan or something similar like a John Deere Gator. Compact tractors, quad bikes, ride on mowers can also be used. At 475 lbs in weight, most of the above machines would cope with this sort of weight. The low ground pressure grade tyres help to keep turf damage and ease of pulling to a minimum.
To Conclude
Toro offers two years warranty or 1500 hours, whichever comes first. So they obviously have confidence in their product. As I mentioned this machine isn’t for the average garden but certainly extremely useful for the golf course, large estate or garden and park areas and commercial landscapers.
Air Flow
In independent 3rd party testing, the Pro Force™ demonstrated greater CFM, or air volume flow, than any single nozzle turbine-type debris blower currently available.
Engine
24.6 hp (18.3 kW) twin-cylinder air-cooled Kohler® Command Pro® with electronic governor
Fan
Axial flow
Height
33 inches (83.8 cm)
Length
79 – 115 inches (200.7 – 292.1 cm) from adjustable tow hitch to nozzle outlet
Nozzle Type
Impact-resistant plastic with 13″ (33 cm) outlet diameter
Tires
20 x 10-8, 4 ply turf tire
Warranty
2-year or 1,500 hour manufacturer’s limited warranty
Today we are going to talk about the Stihl BR800 backpack blower. This Stihl BR800 backpack blower has only been available in the UK for a few months, I believe the BR 800 backpack blower was available earlier in the US.
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
I’ve always liked Stihl products and I’ve used them commercially for over 30 years and I am still using Stihl products today.
About three years ago I was starting up a new business. I needed a powerful blower to assist me in the cleaning up process after I had completed a job. The original leaf blower that I owned was a Stihl BG86CE which is a 27 mL handheld blower. It’s a great blower and it’s a machine that I still use today, however, I needed something larger so that I could really move debris quickly.
I decided to purchase Stihl’s largest backpack blower at the time which was the BR600. However, literally a few days after purchasing this blower, the BG 700 came out! If I had of known I would have purchased the BG700 as the BR600 and 700 are identical in physical size, but obviously the BR 700 has more blowing power.
I have to say that I am more than happy with my Stihl BG 600 blower. However, when you know there’s something a bit more powerful on the market there is a feeling that it may be time to go for the more powerful machine.
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
Let’s Compare The Differences In Specification
The BR 600 has a 64.8 cc engine, the BR 800 has a 79.9cc engine, so that is almost 25% larger.
The BR 800 has a 4.4 hp engine against the BR 600 which has a 3.8 hp engine.
To See The Full Specifications, Have A Look At The Chart Below.
There is very little weight difference between the BR 600 and BR 800. The weight difference is approximately three pounds or 1.5 kg. I have to say that I have never found the BR 600 to be heavy on my back. I believe this is because it is very well balanced, and it has an excellent shoulder and waist strap that can be adjusted to suit every size of body.
If I’m clearing leaves with my backpack blower, I will normally run the machine until it runs out of fuel. This normally takes around the one-hour mark. I’ve never thought to myself that I need to get this blower off my back due to the weight or the discomfort of carrying it. The weight really is distributed very well indeed, it’s certainly much easier than using a handheld blower and much more powerful!
Stihl BR800 Backpack Blower
Start The Engine On Your Back
One of the best features that I like about the BR 800 is the option to be able to start the blower without removing it from your back. This may not sound like the most exciting feature but to me, it is extremely useful.
For example, if your phone rings or a customer comes out to see you, there is no need to remove the blower from your back! With the recoil at the side, you can just simply pull the starter cord without removing from your back, this really is a great feature!
Just remember that when you are carrying out cold start, make sure you don’t touch the throttle lever otherwise this will release the choke and make for difficult starting. It’s a very natural thing to do when you are putting the backpack blower on your back, for some reason we want to touch the throttle trigger!
How Much Better Is The BR 800 Backpack Blower?
I find my BR 600 blower a really great tool for blowing leaves and clearing up in the garden. So I don’t want to run this machine down as its a machine that I really recommend. However, when you know there’s something more powerful on the market for a similar cost and similar type of machine, it seemed a good idea to upgrade. I will definitely be going for the larger BR 800 machine, even though I haven’t personally tried it as yet.
I have seen reviews and videos for the BR800 and they are all praising up this backpack blower. I have used the BR 700 model and although it’s the same engine size as the BR 600, even this offers more blowing power.
Why Choose Stihl?
I know that there are many manufacturers who make good leaf blowers at all different prices. However, I have used and I still use Stihl products today as I like to purchase a quality product that will last and be reliable. Another good plus point is if you have a need to sell a Stihl product, providing the machine is in good order and condition it will hold its value.
Even if you’re not a professional but you want to purchase a product that will last you for many years, I would recommend Stihl products.
As I always mention in many of my posts, by the best product that you can afford, it’s far cheaper in the long run. It’s also nice to use a product that feels well-engineered and works efficiently.
Today we are talking about the Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower, this is the largest zero turn stand on blower available. Billy Goat makes a slightly smaller stand on blower which is 23 hp, however, today we will be talking about the largest model which is 35 hp.
The Largest Range Of Wheeled Blowers
Billy Goat has the largest range of wheeled blowers in the world, the smallest wheeled blower being just 5 hp and then their largest walk-behind model going right up to 18 hp. Briggs & Stratton brought out the Hurricane models, they also make the identical Ferris model which is painted in the Ferris red paint colour. Ferris has been making great zero turn mowers for years, so having owned several Ferris zero-turn mowers I know that these machines are very well constructed and reliable.
Ferris makes the FB 2000 and FB 3000 Hurricane stand on blower, they are, 23 hp and 35 hp respectively.
The Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower comes complete with headlights, so as the daylight disappears in the autumn you can complete your leaf clearance jobs.
With a 35 hp engine, this blower is the equivalent to about 10 to 12 traditional backpack blowers, which is actually quite amazing, that’s a lot of blowing power. This blower has about 8500 CFM.
Billy Goat Wheeled Blower Adjustable Chute
Vent Control
You can blow out the right side, this is a fixed vent which is open or closed, this fan is controlled by the throttle speed. The vent at the front is also the same, it is controlled by the throttle speed.
The left-hand vent is different, all the vents will work providing that the key is turned on. The vents are controlled by a joystick, if you move the joystick to open, they will open. You don’t have to close the vents all the time, you can just move across to the open position and the other vent will close. There’s also a place on the joystick to close all the vents, a very straightforward control feature.
When you want to open the left-hand vent, you basically have a depth gauge which you can see from the operator’s position. This depth gauge will tell you how far the vent is open.
As you can see in the photograph the left-hand vent has complete control, the vent is in two pieces, so as soon as the air blows through both vents will rise up together. Being able to adjust these vents is an extremely useful feature, you can direct the air to exactly where you want it depending on the type of material being blown. If you don’t want all that blowing power blowing out just simply adjust the vent to the required position. All these features are carried out from the joystick control.
Briggs And Stratton 35 hp Vanguard Engine
More Features
The 35 hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine has an easy access oil filter, which is always good to know when it comes to draining the oil out of the sump. The oil needs changing after the first 10 hours of use and then I would change every 100 hours of use. It’s always a good idea to keep the oil clean as it is much cheaper to change the oil regularly rather than wear expensive metal parts.
The batteries are housed underneath the engine. The air filter sits on top of the engine and is very easily accessible. Once again, keep your air filter clean as it is so important that your engine does not take any debris in that cause unnecessary wear to the engine.
The Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower has an hour meter, this is always a good idea as it tells you exactly when you need to carry out an oil change etc. When the machine is running the hour meter will actually tell you the rpm of the engine, you can push a button to switch from rpm to hours.
There is an oil alert light, which is always good to know in case your engine runs short of oil in case it has not been checked recently. I generally like to check the oil every time before I use a machine, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
10 Gallon Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank
The machine has a large 10-gallon fuel tank, which should keep going for several hours work. Unfortunately, and I see this on many machines, it does not have a fuel gauge. Some machines have a simple gauge on the fuel which works on a float system. I am guessing that providing you can find the right size fuel cap, you may be able to purchase an optional float fuel gauge from somewhere.
Although there is no fuel gauge on this tank, due to the large-cap, it is easy to look into the fuel tank. There is no filter to block your vision. Ideally, if you are filling from cans I would use a fuel funnel with a fuel filter on, it’s always good to keep your fuel tank clean and to help stop any fuel problems or blockages.
There are two small oil tanks that need to be checked regularly, make sure you use the correct hydraulic oil and keep the area around the caps clean. These oil tanks normally have around half an inch of oil in the bottom as the rest of the tank allows for expansion as the oil heats up. In normal terms, you shouldn’t need to add any oil as the individual hydraulic motors should all be sealed and should not leak.
Tyres And Speed
The stand on blower has large pneumatic rear tyres and foam-filled puncture-free caster wheels at the front. I always fill my tyres on horticulture machinery with a puncture repair fluid, this has literally saved me hours of downtime.
The puncture repellent normally comes in 1 L bottles, simply remove the valve from the tyre, the tar needs to be at the 10 to 2 position. Then place the spout on the valve and squirt in the required amount of fluid. The manufacturers will tell you how much you need to add. I cannot tell you how much downtime this process and save me. A puncture in a tyre can be so time-consuming and costly.
The speed of the machine is variable, it is powered by two individual hydraulic motors on each rear wheel. The speed is controlled by two levers that give you instant forward and reverse control, zero-turn machines are the most manoeuvrable machines on the market.
This is a commercial machine
This Billy Goat Hurricane Z3000 zero turn stand on blower certainly isn’t for the average homeowner, it is more for the contractor who is doing regular leaf clearing and parking areas.
It certainly is a very efficient machine and with the zero-turn capabilities it makes it exceptionally manoeuvrable, it can literally turn around on itself. Although the traditional walk-behind blowers are great, the 18 hp Billy Goat machine only has one forward speed and no reverse, which is fine, but also this particular machine is far superior and efficient.
With the walk-behind machines you have to pull the machine backwards, however, with this zero turn machine, you have instant reverse on two levers. Although, due to the three air vents, you will probably never need to blow in reverse.
To Conclude
Although this is a new machine the Hurricane design has been around for several years, so it should be bullet-proof. The 35 hp Briggs & Stratton engine is a well-proven engine which is also used on Billy Goats largest vacuum machine.
The fact that this machine is the same as the Ferris gives me a great deal of confidence. I have used and owned several Ferris zero-turn mowers which have been excellent machines. They are built to a very high standard and over the years that I owned these machines I had minimal problems. I was also using my Ferris machines commercially, so they carried out a lot of work.
The Billy Goat Billy F1802SPV self-propelled force blower, I believe, is the most powerful wheeled blower on the market today. It is certainly Billy Goats most powerful walk behind blower. Billy Goat makes several models of wheeled leaf blowers, starting from the smallest model which is 5 hp and the largest model being 18 hp.
It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard 18 hp petrol engine which can actually be the equivalent power of seven backpack blowers!
The model in the video has an engine hour meter fitted, which was actually fitted by the owner. I don’t know why more manufacturers do not fit hour meters to the machine, to me it’s very important to know how many hours work a machine has worked as to regard oil changes and servicing et cetera.
The machine in the video has around 150 hours on the clock, it is approximately four years old and it looks like it’s been looked after and kept undercover. To me, it’s always a good practice to keep your machinery clean, serviced and undercover.
What Can Your Billy Goat Wheeled Blower Be Used For?
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is ideal for clearing parking areas, as you can see in the video it quickly moves debris out the way. It’s also good for blowing leaves on lawns and in fields and driveways.
Patented Aim N Shoot
Using The Billy Goat Wheeled Blower
The Billy Goat wheeled blower is self-propelled, however, it does not have a reverse gear, so there may be times when you have to pull the machine backwards, depending what work is being carried out. Fortunately, the blower is quite light and pushes very easily backwards and forwards.
When using the blower on hard areas, for example, driveways and car parks is often easier just to push the blower as the forward speed is quite slow. It is very easy to push on hard surfaces, the forward speed can be used on hills or grassed areas where there is slightly more resistance when pushing.
The Aim N Chute technology enables you to move the chute from the handlebars of the wheeled blower. This is a great feature as it enables you to adjust the chute very simply depending on conditions or the material being blown.
Reliability
On this particular Billy Goat wheeled blower, the only issue the owner has had in four years is a new recoil start cord. Which to me is nothing, however, I would expect to recoil cord to last a bit longer than 150 hours. It’s a very straightforward job to replace the recoil cord, a local dealer can carry out this job in a matter of minutes.
The machine normally starts on the first or second pull which is great. I have actually owned machines with this particular Briggs & Stratton engine, it’s a good engine and easy to start. I believe on the particular engine that I owned had a recoil start and electric start. It’s always good to have the optional recoil start in case the electric start fails! I don’t think electric start is an option on this particular wheeled blower, to me this isn’t a problem as it starts pretty easily and keeps the cost of the machine down.
The front wheel on this particular machine has also been replaced as it is used on hard surfaces and takes quite a bit of the weight. The tyres are foam filled so there is no downtime through punctures, which is a great idea. I’ve spent far too long over the years getting punctures repaired!
Features
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has the air filter mounted on top of the engine, so this is very accessible. Always make sure and keep your air filter clean and take care when removing the air cleaner from the engine. You do not want any dust or debris entering the engine as this can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the engine parts. A few minutes of regular cleaning can save you huge amounts of money in the long run.
The fuel tank is constructed in plastic material, its large fuel tank (approximately 2 gallons) that can give you plenty of work time between refills.
Final Thoughts
The Billy Goat wheeled blower has been a reliable machine and is a great way to move leaves. However, if you are using this machine all day can become slightly tiring.
The good news is that there is a Billy Goat stander blower coming out soon, in fact, I think it’s probably out now in the US. I will try and find out more about this machine in the next few weeks.
Today we are going to talk about the special offer on the Mitox 26B-SP select petrol £99 leaf blower and the features that it offers.
Autumn Is Almost Here
Autumn is almost upon us, the official day of autumn is Michaelmas which is the 29th September. Already the leaves are falling and have been for several weeks, although I think some of this has been due to the dry weather, especially here in East Anglia.
I have several tools that I really value in the garden, which I will be talking about over the coming months. I think probably that one of the tools that I use most in the garden all year round is a leaf blower.
Although garden blowers are often referred to as leaf blowers they are a tool that I use all year round. The primary purpose of a garden blower is to blow leaves, however, they are great for tidying up in the garden. For example, if I have been weeding a border, I normally just blow the lawn area around the border. I know that traditionally this can be carried out with a rake, but I am someone who likes to take full advantage of mechanical power!
Another great purpose that a leaf lower house is blowing down machinery after use, it’s a great way to keep your machines clean and free from dust and grass etc.
A Budget Petrol Leaf Blower For £99
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower is a budget petrol leaf blower which sells for just £99. I appreciate that there are cheaper electric models available, however, I would much prefer to spend a few more pounds and something that offers the freedom of a petrol leaf blower. For me, there is nothing worse than having an electric cable trailing behind you and getting the lead caught up in various objects in the garden!
If you want to go slightly upmarket, Mitox offers large models with more power and the ability to collect. You can see more of the Mitox leaf blowers here.
Mitox Perfectly Balanced Leaf Blower
Value for money
The Mitox 26B-SP select petrol leaf blower really does offer value for money. It is powered by a 25.4cc 2 stroke petrol engine which generates a lot of blowing power reaching blowing speeds of 155 mph.
The throttle lever offers variable speed operation which is very important when you are blowing in corners or you just want a gentle blow. It also has a lock on feature for blowing larger areas of leaves. It’s important to remember that not all electric leaf blowers have a variable speed feature which can make blowing difficult when you are in tight spaces.
Well-Balanced
Something that I like about these compact handheld blowers is that they are very easy to pick up and use. I personally use a backpack blower which is great as it has more power as I do quite a bit of commercial work. Although sometimes it would be useful just to have a handheld blower which is compact and literally you pull the starter cord and you are blowing straight away. A backpack blower is a little bit more cumbersome, although they definitely have their uses.
The Mitox leaf blower is a nicely balanced machine that is easy and comfortable to hold. This machine has a very good performance at an incredibly low price of £99 for a petrol blower.
The leaf blower comes with a long tube which is flat at one end to increase blowing power.
This leaf blower is suitable for blowing leaves, dry grass and moss, sawdust and light hedge clippings.
Flat End Blowing Tube
Mitox offers a one-year domestic warranty and three months commercial warranty on this leaf blower.
