Stihl Backpack blowers

[Ace4059]

I see the Stihl line up of backpack blowers (br600 and above) use a 4 cycle “mix” engine. I was reading it needs a 50:1 of Stihl ultra oil and only that due to ash that can build up on the valves.
First off I hate Stihl ultra oil in chainsaws. I feel It doesn’t provide adequate oil in the crankcase, and very little oil on the cylinder walls. I prefer red armor at 40:1 because of the FD rating, better cleaning, cleaner burning, a little thicker and it pools down in the crankcase providing a little more protection.
Basically I want one mix for all my 2 stroke equipment. Will a 40:1 mix be bad for the design of the Stihl 4 cycle mix motors causing damage to the valves due to “extra ash”.
One of the few issues with the BR600,700 and 800 is the crankshaft failure from a copper bushing, which I’m hoping the 40:1 will help prevent this.
If this is a concern, should I be looking at the Echo 9010 that has a conventional 2 cycle engine?

 

[ammoaddict]

I see the Stihl line up of backpack blowers (br600 and above) use a 4 cycle “mix” engine. I was reading it needs a 50:1 of Stihl ultra oil and only that due to ash that can build up on the valves.
First off I hate Stihl ultra oil in chainsaws. I feel It doesn’t provide adequate oil in the crankcase, and very little oil on the cylinder walls. I prefer red armor at 40:1 because of the FD rating, better cleaning, cleaner burning, a little thicker and it pools down in the crankcase providing a little more protection.
Basically I want one mix for all my 2 stroke equipment. Will a 40:1 mix be bad for the design of the Stihl 4 cycle mix motors causing damage to the valves due to “extra ash”.
One of the few issues with the BR600,700 and 800 is the crankshaft failure from a copper bushing, which I’m hoping the 40:1 will help prevent this.
If this is a concern, should I be looking at the Echo 9010 that has a conventional 2 cycle engine?

I would buy an echo blower over a stihl any day of the week but that's just my opinion. I have a stihl 4mix pole saw and I run dominator 32:1 in it just like I do everything else.

 

[Joe Kidd]

Dom or Yama2r 40:1 in mine for years. Stihl BP, pole saw, & hedge trimmer.

 

[bogieboy]

I see the Stihl line up of backpack blowers (br600 and above) use a 4 cycle “mix” engine. I was reading it needs a 50:1 of Stihl ultra oil and only that due to ash that can build up on the valves.
First off I hate Stihl ultra oil in chainsaws. I feel It doesn’t provide adequate oil in the crankcase, and very little oil on the cylinder walls. I prefer red armor at 40:1 because of the FD rating, better cleaning, cleaner burning, a little thicker and it pools down in the crankcase providing a little more protection.
Basically I want one mix for all my 2 stroke equipment. Will a 40:1 mix be bad for the design of the Stihl 4 cycle mix motors causing damage to the valves due to “extra ash”.
One of the few issues with the BR600,700 and 800 is the crankshaft failure from a copper bushing, which I’m hoping the 40:1 will help prevent this.
If this is a concern, should I be looking at the Echo 9010 that has a conventional 2 cycle engine?

The crank failures werent due to a bushing, it was due to an improperly manufactured piston pin which has been changed in the current stock of blowers.

That said, all i run in all my 2 stroke is stihl ultra for the last 10 yrs, and have not had a single failure...12 chainsaws, 3 weed whips, 4 blowers (3 handheld, one br600. I run the ultra at 40:1, exept in my gas rc boat, where it runs at 12:1, due to 20k rpm under full load... and none of them have carbon fouling, nor any signs of scoring or lack of oil... stihl doubles your warranty with a 6 pack of thier oil at the time of purchase for a reason... and it aint because they want to sell you something that will cause warranty claims.... just saying...

 

[Squareground3691]

Have a 700 that’s 8 years old and a 800 that’s 4 years old, running Motul and Dominator in both with no issues and use quite often, and run great , Echo makes a fine machine to ,

 

[EFSM]

If this is a concern, should I be looking at the Echo 9010 that has a conventional 2 cycle engine?

Have you ever run a 9010? Almost without fail, when I let a customer run one a few minutes, they walk out the door with it. It's like having a dirt bike on your back.

 

[StickToTheCode]

I run mine used facebook non running br650, 40:1 saber. Had to re-tune carb but been going on homeowner use pine needles for past 3 years no issues.

 

[Ace4059]

I went by the store and tried on both the Echo and the Stihl. I was going with the Echo, (that’s what they recommended) and the counter was going to order me a hip strap but after some research that’s not available in the US from Echo.
The Stihl was more comfortable with the hip strap on my back and for me a little better.
But I would have to agree, the Echo is more powerful and moves around leaves quicker. It maybe a better machine overall, but I had to get the one that fit me. I’m sure the Stihl will be good enough for my needs on the farm.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I went by the store and tried on both the Echo and the Stihl. I was going with the Echo, (that’s what they recommended) and the counter was going to order me a hip strap but after some research that’s not available in the US from Echo.
The Stihl was more comfortable with the hip strap on my back and for me a little better.
But I would have to agree, the Echo is more powerful and moves around leaves quicker. It maybe a better machine overall, but I had to get the one that fit me. I’m sure the Stihl will be good enough for my needs on the farm.

What one did you buy? 6,7 or 800? The 800’x did have some issues splitting the block though that valve train. I did bring in one for a tree guy to get a complete short block installed. I do believe they modified the block to resolve it. And yes the earlier 4-mix did not live on Stihl orange bottle so they made ultra for them but over the years they have revised them and they will live on orange bottle oil now. This was told to me but a Stihl rep that I know and has moved further on. It’s not the one they recommend but will work and even says all Stihl equipment on the bottle.

 

[Joe Kidd]

I've got a big Redmax 2T. Although it moves more air than my BR600 Mag, it's heavier, less comfortable, and has more vibration than the Stihl. I find myself picking up the Stihl more often.

 

[Al Smith]

I've got a BR 400 which of course is older .I've had it around 12 years ,always just like my other two cyles 32 to 1 ratio .Fact I might need to break it out if my BG 85 won't blow the snow off my side walks .Damned cold job but it beats a snow shovel .

 

[ammoaddict]

I've got a BR 400 which of course is older .I've had it around 12 years ,always just like my other two cyles 32 to 1 ratio .Fact I might need to break it out if my BG 85 won't blow the snow off my side walks .Damned cold job but it beats a snow shovel .

Our snow is always too wet to blow.

 

[lehman live edge slab]

I have a br 350 and a 600

 

[Al Smith]

While my BR 400 has enough power the pot licker is not really "user friendly " the thing is just plain heavy .I bought it cheap enough .$200 in tip top shape I don't use it that often . The BG 85 I built up from pieces as the original got in a fight with a 7,000 pound wood chipper and lost the battle .I found another on flea bay for 50 bucks to get the parts from ..Those plus two or three more,Homelite,McCullocch that were given to me as freebies .The all run or did run at one time .

 

[Joe Kidd]

Have you ever run a 9010? Almost without fail, when I let a customer run one a few minutes, they walk out the door with it. It's like having a dirt bike on your back.

Where's the best price online for Echo blowers?

 

[Merkava_4]

Nice try. I got the Echo PB-9010. There's no comparison between it and a STIHL blower. I use STIHL ULTRA 50:1 with no issues. When you can dust off the spark arrestor with just a few swipes of a toothbrush, you know you got good oil. Make sure you use the highest octane available and get ethanol free if you can. Get the mix ratios perfect. I mix one 6.4 ounce bottle with 2.501 gallons of gasoline. And I have the gas pump shut off at the pre-paid amount. No guessing.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I have a BR600 and a BR700 that I got basically free. They came from a commercial lawn service that does apartment complexes, that type thing. No telling how many hours on them. He runs OptiMix , or something spelled similarly. They had lost compression and would not run. I took them apart, cleaned the valves and seats. Actually it was build up on the valve stems that would not let them close all the way through the guides.
My time, which is basically worthless.

 

[Ace4059]

I went with the BR 800
Been using red armor 40:1. Two tanks through it last week and no problems. The next two days are going to be nice so I can finish the leaves then.
I only use fresh 91 octane non ethanol fuel. The extra $1 per gallon is worth not having small engine problems.

Yes the 9010 was more powerful but the blower tube was too stiff for my liking, the plastic overall seemed cheaper/less rugged, it was less comfortable on the back for me, and the lack of the hip belt in the US was a dealbreaker for me. The echo was about $50 cheaper compared to the Stihl. It seems the echo is mechanically sound and gets great reviews, now let’s hope the issues in the BR800 have been worked out and mine will hold up for 10+ years of homeowner use.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I went with the BR 800
Been using red armor 40:1. Two tanks through it last week and no problems. The next two days are going to be nice so I can finish the leaves then.
I only use fresh 91 octane non ethanol fuel. The extra $1 per gallon is worth not having small engine problems.

Yes the 9010 was more powerful but the blower tube was too stiff for my liking, the plastic overall seemed cheaper/less rugged, it was less comfortable on the back for me, and the lack of the hip belt in the US was a dealbreaker for me. The echo was about $50 cheaper compared to the Stihl. It seems the echo is mechanically sound and gets great reviews, now let’s hope the issues in the BR800 have been worked out and mine will hold up for 10+ years of homeowner use.

If you are young and strong don't pull the tube hard to your left. Rather turn your body. We get them in from time to time with the throttle cable stretched. It is from pulling them hard left.