Leaf Blower Questions

[mx1alex]

Well I went ahead and bought the KOMBI system with the KM110 motor, blower, pole saw, and extension. I plan to get the string trimmer whenever my current one craps out.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Anybody have experience with the Kombi system that Stihl has? I'm thinking about going that route now. Can get a trimmer, pole saw, and blower all with the same power head.

I looked at a kombi last week after seeing your comment. They didn't even stock the blower for it, said that it was weak and didn't recommend it, but did recommend all the other kombi attachments.

 

[4570Man]

I looked at a kombi last week after seeing your comment. They didn't even stock the blower for it, said that it was weak and didn't recommend it, but did recommend all the other kombi attachments.

What were they comparing it to? A strong backpack blower makes it look weak, but it can hang with any handheld blower. It is also a heck of a lot easier to use than a 1 hand handheld.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

What were they comparing it to? A strong backpack blower makes it look weak, but it can hang with any handheld blower. It is also a heck of a lot easier to use than a 1 hand handheld.

They had all the attachments but the blower, so I asked about it. I guess they were comparing to all their other blowers.

I want to get a pole chainsaw, and my trees around the house are getting big enough that a blower would come in handy so I thought I'd check it out. I have no need for the other Kombi attachments.

 

[mx1alex]

I used both last night. The blower has plenty of power for what I need it to do. When you throttle the motor it has enough torque you can feel try and turn in your hands.

I used the pole saw attachment as well. It's pretty heavy but man I wish I would've bought one years ago. Sure beats climbing up a ladder to trim limbs.

 

[4570Man]

They had all the attachments but the blower, so I asked about it. I guess they were comparing to all their other blowers. I want to get a pole chainsaw, and my trees around the house are getting big enough that a blower would come in handy so I thought I'd check it out. I have no need for the other Kombi attachments.

I think they probably just wanted to sell you a more expensive independent blower.

 

[ustmd]

Not to be the heretic in church here:laughing:, but after having gone through several gas models, I have settled on a cheapo, corded electric blower from one of the big box stores. While managing the cord is a hassle, it blows away (sorry about the pun) any of the gas models I had before this. None of the issues with starting or concerns about fuel. It is not as loud and on its highest setting, I end up with a sore arm/shoulder the next day from having to counter act the force from the blower.

If the wife is going to use it and it is just for the area around the house, I would seriously look at a corded one.

 

[EddieWalker]

If I was buying gasoline powered, I would only look at Echo. They have the easiest to start motors out of every brand I've owned. Compared to my Stihl chain saws, Echo is night and day easier to start. I have one Echo chain saw and two Stihls.

My experience with battery powered yard tools is the batteries don't last very long and they are too expensive to replace for what you get. Maybe if you found a major tool brand, that might be OK, but I think the batteries will still die fairly quickly. Unlike drills and drivers, you have to compare cordless batteries use to tools like a sawzall or grinder. Tools that you keep on for longer periods of time go through batteries quickly!!!

I personally have two hundred foot long air hoses, plus a few 50 and 25 foot hoses. There is nowhere around my house that I cant get to with the air hose connected to my air compressor. I don't blow leaves, that's what the mower is for, but I do blow out my gutters and clean off my walkways with air.

 

[4570Man]

Even the worst electric ( not cordless just electric) blower can outperform an air hose. Plus an electric blower can run longer than an air hose even if you have a huge compressor. I have an electric blower that actually blows pretty hard, but it is way easier to start a gas blower than drag around a cord and then roll up the cord when you are done.

 

[mx1alex]

I have a stihl chainsaw that's not hard to start but you have to do it the right way. If you know it, it will start right up everytime but it's difficult if you don't do things in the right order.

The Stihl Kombi power head I got however is very easy to start.

 

[4570Man]

From my experience a Stihl chainsaws are hard to start. My Husky can cut circles around a Stihl anyway. My Sthil Kombi head starts on the first pull. My Redmax blower starts easy. My echo string trimmer is the most difficult of my quality two strokes to start.

 

[4570Man]

I did a leaf blower test today. A RedMax backpack blower EBZ6500 VS a Stihl Kombi blower powered by a KM90R motor. I knew the Stihl would loose, but I didn't expect the landslide it was. I didn't have enough leafs to blow leafs, so I used each blower to blow a 5 gallon bucket on the driveway as far as possible without moving the blower. I repeated the test 5 times. Here are the RedMax numbers 20 feet, 21 feet 9 inches, 23 feet 1 inch, 25 feet 9 inches, 23 feet 1 inch. Here are the Stihl numbers 6 feet 8 inches, 6 feet 9 inches, 7 feet 1 inch, 7 feet 9 inches, 8 feet 6 inches. As if the RedMax hadn't already whipped it bad enough I continued the test this time adding 5 pounds inside the bucket. Here are the RedMax numbers with the weighted bucket. 9 feet 10 inches, 9 feet 4 inches, 10 feet 11 inches, 9 feet 2 inches, 9 feet 1 inch. Here are the Stihl numbers, unable to move bucket.

 

[mx1alex]

I did a leaf blower test today. A RedMax backpack blower EBZ6500 VS a Stihl Kombi blower powered by a KM90R motor. I knew the Stihl would loose, but I didn't expect the landslide it was. I didn't have enough leafs to blow leafs, so I used each blower to blow a 5 gallon bucket on the driveway as far as possible without moving the blower. I repeated the test 5 times. Here are the RedMax numbers 20 feet, 21 feet 9 inches, 23 feet 1 inch, 25 feet 9 inches, 23 feet 1 inch. Here are the Stihl numbers 6 feet 8 inches, 6 feet 9 inches, 7 feet 1 inch, 7 feet 9 inches, 8 feet 6 inches. As if the RedMax hadn't already whipped it bad enough I continued the test this time adding 5 pounds inside the bucket. Here are the RedMax numbers with the weighted bucket. 9 feet 10 inches, 9 feet 4 inches, 10 feet 11 inches, 9 feet 2 inches, 9 feet 1 inch. Here are the Stihl numbers, unable to move bucket.

I'll keep that in mind next time I'm blowing buckets!

 

[kenmac]

I'll keep that in mind next time I'm blowing buckets!

your wife will love you for saving her back.. That redmax weights close to 23 lbs. My redmax ebz 8500 weights 25-26 lbs... It can get very heavy using it all day.. My wife would never be able to tote this thing on her back

 

[4570Man]

I'll keep that in mind next time I'm blowing buckets!

I didn't have any leafs on the ground yet. What else did that leave to blow?

 

[mx1alex]

I didn't have any leafs on the ground yet. What else did that leave to blow?

Just giving ya a hard time. So far the Kombi blower has been perfect for my needs.