TampaNative wrote:As a South Park Fanatic I can't believe I missed that episode and therefor the reference. Thanks for the clarification and I'll be searching my southpark collection as I have every episode of every season on an external hard drive to view on my TV via a WD TV Media player.
Thanks again!

FYI "The Last of the Meheecans" aired for the first time on 10/12/11.

I'd like something powerful that I can roll around. Can you recommend any brands of this type?

michaelsalley wrote:Popular Mechanics did a review of eight handheld blowers last month including this one, which got four stars out of five. Their only real objection to it was that, like many of its competitors, the air cleaner was thoroughly inadequate.

Here's the article.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/outdoor-tools/which-leaf-blower-is-the-best-we-test-8-to-find-out#fbIndex1

That being said, I've never touched an electric blower OR a handheld blower that I didn't want to throw in the garbage after the first season. Nothing but backpack blowers for me from here on out -- preferably Stihl BR-series; our old BR-400 has been going forever and is still unsurpassed - nothing else has the oomph to get the job done. If you're doing a quarter-acre yard, then one of these makes more sense than electric (just so you don't have to drag the cord around) and will probably be adequate. Any time I start a blower I'm looking at 1-3 acres, so it's worth it to not have to hold the machine by hand.

The ones that are a four-stroke engine on a wheeled platform with a squirrel-cage fan type blower are astonishingly impressive if you've never had a chance to use one.

I am really concerned about the enviroment, so co concerned actually that I am passing on this enviromental nightmare that I would have to pick up at the post office in my hummer, wasting more fossil fuels. I have done my part to drive another day

miken927 wrote:Does the 2 stroke require mixing oil with the gas?

Yes, two strokes always require a gas/oil mix. The manual for this blower calls for a ratio between 25:1 and 50:1. The pre-measured bottles of oil at the store should tell you what ratio they'll make when mixed with one gallon of gas.

Five pine trees on the sides of the house, planted (somebody's poor idea) in gravel beds. Looks like I just found my needle remover.

In for one.

Been ripped off by so many rebate scams where they just throw part of your submission away and claim they never got it. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I'll pass.

I have a powerful Toro blower but it is electric and I hate to haul around the cord but is strong enough for most every application I have. I also own a B&D 18v. battery blower that does just fine for blowing off the driveway, patio and my lawn tractor, but it is not very powerful and usually requires a change of battery before the whole job is finished.

This Hitachi should be good for the roof where I have to contend with tons of pine needles. The battery blower is not strong enough for this job and the electric cord of the Toro blower gets under the roof shingles every time I make a turn causing me to go all the way back to the point where it gets stuck under a shingle. And not to mention the cord has to be extended with two others to make over 150' run length (not a good thing). So, although I have most of the bases covered with my other equipment, this blower will help cover all the bases. For me, that is sufficient reason to be in for one.

mrln wrote:Shoot up from a leaf blower? Seriously? That makes no sense. The average person using this regularly for grass and leaves likely uses less than 6 gallons of gasoline an entire year. These devices are convenience devices to get work done faster. Contrary to what you may believe, they are not significant contributors whatsoever, not compared to a typical household's electricity usage, hot water demands, Prius, driving behavior, home heating/AC units, buying non-local food, etc. 6 gallons is nothing compared to the other massive CO2 sinks people have.

CO2 is one thing. That's fixed by the amount of gas used, so in that sense, you're right. But powerplants, cars, and just about everything else is subjected to emission controls which limit the amount of other pollutants, such as sulphur, that can be emitted. A car has a catalytic converter and an on-board computer to control emissions. Powerplants have scrubbers. This thing has neither.

Also, two stroke engines, by design, emit more emissions than four stroke engines. I don't know the exact conversion, but it's not unreasonable to assume that 6 gallons of gas in this is equivalent to 60 gallons in a car.

www.egr.msu.edu/erl/emiss/emiss.htm

bought one!

I didn't know 2-stroke can be CARB approved. I noticed all mowers and trimmers are now 4 stroke (I have both). I'be been using a battery powered blower for the last 4 years and it does NOT get the job done before needing a charge.

Used these back in 'nam. You tell the fresh meat that you are going to blow the ground ahead of you to clear landmines.

Worked like a charm. The kids marched ahead with confidence.

I don't mean it exploded mines - it didn't. I just mean it got the fresh meat marching.

Excellent!! I have a neighbor I don't like. With this I can drive him crazy making loud noises all day long, and blow dust and spores into the air. I'll aim it so it blows at his house and I will wear ear plugs and respirator.

Thinkerer wrote:Toro is still making the snowblowers, but with a 4-stroke OHV engine. I have the older 2 stroke; gutsy little thing but I'm glad for the electric start.

They still make 1-stagers for sure (Toro, Honda, Yard Machines, etc.) but I think they're all 4-stroke. I don't think anyone makes the 2-stroke 1-stage snow blower anymore. Last I saw was Ariens.

quantamm wrote:CO2 is one thing. That's fixed by the amount of gas used, so in that sense, you're right.
...
A car has a catalytic converter and an on-board computer to control emissions. Powerplants have scrubbers. This thing has neither.

That "one thing" was the one and only thing being discussed. The original poster which I was addressing (and quoted clearly) was about "carbon emissions," not all emissions.

Both your traditional car and traditional power plant burn hydrocarbons, which produce carbon emissions and a host of other bad emissions. You should try to go renewable. They're better and have NO EMISSIONS. Wow, really you say? But wait, my point is off-base, because you and I weren't talking about that at all, now were we?

PoAng wrote:I'm not sure I've seen a leaf blower that was not handheld.

Back-Pack variants exist.

Gas blowers are ILLEAGLE in many parts of the United States. Here is a list of the some of the juristictions in which this is the case: ILLEAGLE!

VERY POOR QUALITY....this blower is made by Electrolux so is Poulon, Snapper, Craftsman & more. They all have MAJOR cord recoil problems and CAN'T be repaired. Electrolux has very few if any repair facilities. I would not buy this unit at any price. Buy a ECHO.

I use a Mix-Mizer for the appropriate ratios, it allows you to mix up one or two quarts of 2 cycle fuel without guessing

I bought one of these a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely love it.

And to all those complaining about emissions, and noise:

I mow my lawn every 5 days, with a riding mower. Every time I mow, I use my 2 stroke weed eater. I also use my 4 stroke lawn edger every time I mow. To finish things off, I bust out my two stroke blower, and clean off the driveway and my sidewalks.

I'd rather be the guy in my neighborhood known for taking care of his property, and making it look nice, instead of being the stupid white trash who lets his lawn die and doesn't trim his bushes.

Eat it.

shaunatk wrote:I bought one of these a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely love it.

And to all those complaining about emissions, and noise:

I mow my lawn every 5 days, with a riding mower. Every time I mow, I use my 2 stroke weed eater. I also use my 4 stroke lawn edger every time I mow. To finish things off, I bust out my two stroke blower, and clean off the driveway and my sidewalks.

I'd rather be the guy in my neighborhood known for taking care of his property, and making it look nice, instead of being the stupid white trash who lets his lawn die and doesn't trim his bushes.

Eat it.

Now, now, now ... don't get your panties in a twist. It's actually becoming a serious issue as population density rises - not just in cities, but in the suburbs and exurbs as well - and people start wondering if it isn't a legitimate complaint when all weekend (the only time most people can actually *enjoy* their homes, yards, decks, etc.) the air is full of the fumes and genuinely deafening noise of machines used to "beautify" the neighborhood.

This doesn't mean they're all white trash; it means a lot of people would prefer to take a little longer with some rakes, roll those lazy kids out of the family room and get them mowing (maybe with an electric?) and let their neighbors relax with a drink and some barbecue.

Personally, I find the noise and fumes of lawn care machines far more offensive than the presences of leaves, for instance. I mean ... trees have leaves. Lawns are one way to make a yard attractive and enjoyable; there are lots of others that don't involve forcing the growth of a non-native species just because you can.

I mean ... if there were anything natural about lawns, we wouldn't need so much time, chemical assistance, labor and machinery to make them grow.

Just sayin'.

If you want to spend your weekends outdoors but with no sign of actual nature nearby, try the golf course. But note that they usually do their loud, polluting work during the week, when it's more considerate.

Costner wrote:Due to exhaust, it shouldn't be used indoors for speed-drying the cat.

But it's okay to use it outside to speed-dry cats, right?

CharlesP2009 wrote:But it's okay to use it outside to speed-dry cats, right?

Well obviously... that should go without saying.

DameEdithDivine wrote:Gas blowers are ILLEAGLE in many parts of the United States. Here is a list of the some of the juristictions in which this is the case: ILLEAGLE!

A reference that's over 11 years old and the 'Many parts of the USA' are ALL in California?
That list was complied in 2000 and even states 'these ordinances may not be in effect in the future'.

I can see where the higher volume of air this unit pushes would allow for a homeowner to finish a lot in the city fairly quickly and the noise would then be done. On a larger more rural lot odds are you're not going to be close enough to a neighbor for any length of time and thus still wouldn't bother them much.

I'm considering this though odds are by the time it'd arrive we might already have snow on the ground here.....

duckfanbuck wrote:I'm buying one, removing the muffler and plan on blowing my leaves around the neighborhood at 4am: It's payback time!

I agree! REVENGE!!

I swear to God, leaf blowers are the single most useless piece of "home improvement" equipment in the world. Right up there with wind chimes and those stupid plywood cutouts of an old lady showing her bloomers..

Pass! Heard iPhone 5 will have this built in...

robertey wrote:I'd like something powerful that I can roll around. Can you recommend any brands of this type?

I know this isn't the most helpful answer, but the honest answer is that I wouldn't know what to recommend. I know that Troy-Bilt makes one and they used to be pretty good, but rumor has it their quality has gone down in the last several years. (Whose hasn't?) There are a few companies out there (Billy Goat is one) selling them at insanely high prices to, presumably, the professional landscaper market.

Honestly, your best bet is just to Google them and read some consumer reviews and decide what you're willing to spend. The terms "walk behind leaf blower" and "wheeled leaf blower" appear to be the most commonly used.

The one I use personally was made back in the 1970s or 1980s and I'm not sure it wasn't homemade --- if it was a name brand, the logos are long since gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rest of this reply is to the whole board, not to this post.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In response to everybody, who has made the claim that leaf blowers are useless and/or unjustified, I have one question: What's the "environmental impact" of the bulldozers and loaders that are required to rebuild an entire basement wall or worse yet, an entire house, after water cracks it and causes it to fall in? This is what happens to rural homes whose gutters are not blown clear of leaves -- it rains, the gutters overflow, and the foundation wall of the house suddenly has water pressing against it. When I'm walking around on my roof, I sure don't need an electric cord down around my feet to trip over.

Before anybody says "just use a ladder and a pair of gloves", let me simply remind that for those of us who live in a place that isn't perfectly flat as far as the eye can see, one side or the other of a house is very frequently inaccessible by ladder due to slopes.

We can also use this to blow the dust out of our computer cases, or after a camping trip blow stuff out of tents that was tracked inside, or blow out our vehicle's floor, or blow dry your pet's fur or wife's long hair after a bath.

DameEdithDivine wrote:Gas blowers are ILLEAGLE in many parts of the United States. Here is a list of the some of the juristictions in which this is the case: ILLEAGLE!

If you are going to cry 'fowl', at least spell it correctly.

HEE HEE!

This is great for dusting your apartment before your mom comes to visit.

jwrebholz wrote:I agree! REVENGE!!

I swear to God, leaf blowers are the single most useless piece of "home improvement" equipment in the world. Right up there with wind chimes and those stupid plywood cutouts of an old lady showing her bloomers..

Considering that I have a metric Monster A-Go Go (1965)-ton of leaves in my back yard and have to get them to the front curb for the leaf pickup I'm damn sure not going to use a rake to do it. I planned on buying a blower this weekend, but now it's raining.

eldiablohijo wrote:Whatever happened to the gold ol rake?

Sure it may take you 10 times as long, but you feel more accomplished afterwards right?

It might take three times more work, but it won't take any more time. It won't be as loud. It won't pollute. It won't waste energy. It will give you exercise you probably need. This is a terrible invention.

So, 1 week or more to get the product then mail in for the rebate and they will send the prepaid 30 dollar card back to you 8 to 10 weeks from your postage date. so figure 3 months before you get the rebate. so next year some time .... still want one but i hate rebates.

ganzhimself wrote:The premix is sure nice, but it is sold in 1qt bottles that are about somewhere around $5 to $7 a bottle... A gallon of premium is $3.73 and a bottle of 2-cycle oil (with just the right amount to mix with one gallon of gas for a 40:1 or 50:1 ratio, depending on the engine) is $3. So, $7 for a gallon of fuel/oil mix vs $6 for a quart of premixed fuel... Great idea, but it's damn expensive in comparison.

Most pre-mixed gas is ethanol free and does not go bad after sitting on the shelf for a while. Now, if you use up a gallon of gas every 6 months or so - mix it yourself. In my case, the only gas powered equipment is the leaf blower, - since it needs to go to the remote corners and with electric, the wire gets tangled up. With such small levels of gas usage, I prefer paying the premium associated withe ethanol free pre-mixed gas.

I cannot recommend this: I bought one of these because I was told they do a great job blowing the leaves out of your yard. Mine has been sitting out there 3 months and leaves from last year still aren't gone yet. So if they work they are really slow...

How loud is this blower, compared to a Harley?

It's part of a current ongoing Hitachi Rebate Promotion from 9/1 to 11/30.

You can use the rebate at any of the following retailers, if you miss this sale. You may find it at your local Sears, Lowe's, Home Depot during a sale. See below...

Current Promotion Rebates at HitachiPowerTools.com

Use This Hitachi Rebate(s) at any of these Approved Local Retailers

Online Hitachi Retailers

PoAng wrote:I'm not sure I've seen a leaf blower that was not handheld.

They have backpack blowers too!!!

As I said in a previous post, I have a battery operated leaf blower and a fairly powerful electric blower. I can't use the battery one on the roof because it is not powerful enough and I can't use the corded one because the cord constantly gets caught under the shingles. And at 63 I am not agile enough any more to risk getting my foot tangled in a cord up there. So I bought this Hitachi to cover all the bases. A hundred bucks is not bad if it is half as good as the Amazon reviews give it. If I get the rebate, so much the better.

The one thing I want to mention is the Trufuel 50 pre-mixed six pack that Amazon and other on-line retailers sell. Unless you have lots of gas power equipment, this is the way to go. It uses high octane fuel and comes pre-mixed at a perfect 50:1 ratio for this machine. Best of all is the fact that it is ethanol free so your rubber seals and tubes should last. It is always fresh too, even after a year or so and the oil is synthetic. You can't hardly put anything better in the blower to make it run.

I admit that it is expensive as I just paid almost $40 for a six pack of quart cans (including shipping but no tax) at the Trufuel website. However, it is worry free, convenient and shipped right to your door - that is worth a lot to me. Even with fall clean-up right around the corner, I will never use all six cans and will have some left over to start the spring clean-up chores. Although I have never used Trufuel before, from everything I've read this stuff is probably the best way of making sure the machine starts every time and you'll never have to use that 7 year warranty.

milacqua48 wrote:As I said in a previous post, I have a battery operated leaf blower and a fairly powerful electric blower. I can't use the battery one on the roof because it is not powerful enough and I can't use the corded one because the cord constantly gets caught under the shingles. And at 63 I am not agile enough any more to risk getting my foot tangled in a cord up there. So I bought this Hitachi to cover all the bases. A hundred bucks is not bad if it is half as good as the Amazon reviews give it. If I get the rebate, so much the better.

The one thing I want to mention is the Trufuel 50 pre-mixed six pack that Amazon and other on-line retailers sell. Unless you have lots of gas power equipment, this is the way to go. It uses high octane fuel and comes pre-mixed at a perfect 50:1 ratio for this machine. Best of all is the fact that it is ethanol free so your rubber seals and tubes should last. It is always fresh too, even after a year or so and the oil is synthetic. You can't hardly put anything better in the blower to make it run.

I admit that it is expensive as I just paid almost $40 for a six pack of quart cans (including shipping but no tax) at the Trufuel website. However, it is worry free, convenient and shipped right to your door - that is worth a lot to me. Even with fall clean-up right around the corner, I will never use all six cans and will have some left over to start the spring clean-up chores. Although I have never used Trufuel before, from everything I've read this stuff is probably the best way of making sure the machine starts every time and you'll never have to use that 7 year warranty.

I just looked for TruFuel local, and it looks like they have it at the Lowes down the street. I will have to swing by there on the way home to see if it is the same stuff. It may get my weed wacker working again. Good tip, thanks! ..oh and then I will have it for when my Blower arrives for all my MA leaves.

cartman wrote:Gas-powered blowers are bad for the environment - and a complete friction' noise-pollution nuisance. Boo!

I agree. Where are the electric blowers. Or better yet, use a rake and a broom, like I do.

Just bought one so I can blow off my zero turn mower and sidewalk.

All of you booooos who complain about CO2 need to educate yourselves. CO2 is what plants and trees breathe, and plants and trees produce O2 which is what humans breathe. More CO2 = more O2.

Anybody who comes over to my house and complains about noise or emissions from my lawncare equipment will get beaten with the equipment, then I'll continue working on my lawn. I don't have time for your crap.