I don't usually buy new but decided to go new when my trusty old blower was laid to rest and thought I would give my review in case anyone is in the market for a blower / vac. Tanaka and Sons pro - tas 23ea
Have had it over a year now without any issues and does the job well for the price and blows strong which is important in Perth if you mow and clean up in the afternoons after the sea breeze has come in, but is at times, to hard to compete with and you would need a commercial grade machine which I couldn't justify the cost of. I have only used the Vac attachment a couple of times, bit fiddly but not a problem. The only bit of a negative is the position of the fuel primer which is on the underside between carby and fuel tank. If you have very large fingers or have arthritis in the finger joints it will be a bit awkward. Other than that, follow the 2 stroke engine rules and you can't go too far wrong, happy to give it a good recommendation for consideration if your thinking of a new blower.
Wce, can empathise about the sea breeze (and the east wind)
MF, they are usually around the $300 - but a very good deal
Distributed by Parklander https://www.parklandspowerproducts.com.au/products/blowers/new-tas-pro-tas23ea-23cc-blower-vac-kit-included-e-start-5-yr-warranty
Another one around the price range is the Husky 125BVX for about $379. I have this one and goes 3rd pull, perfectly balanced - rev it from idle flat out and it doesn't move an inch out of plum. Can use 20+ minutes without any numbness in the arm.
The only thing is you have to put it on the ground (or use other hand) to shut it off as the centre of mass runs through the handle just behind the switch - so if you push down on the switch with your hand in the operating position the whole blower tilts forward and you can't press down on the button enough.
Best thing was - mine was free! (curbside collections - fuel lines, primer, carby service)
Best I have used is the Echo ES255ES - bit steep at $450 though
Buying a Stihl now is like buying a new Mercedes - buying the name now, not the quality of yester year
Gone are the days of the 'bullet proof 280se' type machines (unless you go professional range)
Have used a BG56 for 10 minutes; fine machine to use, started alright hot and cold, bit gutless (bear in mind this was the 56)
Also bear in mind add another $150 to that price for a vac kit plus a bottle of $20 special alkaline cleaner for their HD2 air filter plus $35 for their bottle of oil for more warranty
Then they will still stuff you on warranty
In my opinion, the main things to look for are well balanced and light, wind VOLUME not just speed, starting mechanism, which side it is sucking air in from.
EDIT - and if you are going to vac, get one with a metal mulching blade on the impeller - otherwise you will kill it in fast order
Have used quite a few of the newer models that are commonly available here are my views:
Makita 4st - smooth, powerful, bit heavy and easy to burn through vac bags apparently
Yardking 4st - quiet and is all it has going for it
Several Echos and Shindaiwas - generally very good. The EB220S easy start was especially good - Echo PB2455 (?) was very good.
Aldi did a knock off of the pb2455 for $99 - which I actually bought. Very impressed with it (metal mulch impeller etc) but heavy!
Ryobi jet blower - surprisingly good, but no vac capability
Ryobi FC blower (about $260) - pretty good but bit of vibration
$199 Ryobi TTI half crank - luckily I got it with a very good PT commando from the tip - $15 for the pair. 5 year old, new carby diaphragms now. Absolute bugger to start (6 pulls min hot or cold). I have seen that many with stripped starter pawls - its due to the stupid choke that is supposed to prevent it flooding. The current model floods that easily (regular choke) that they have a noch on the back where the plug tool sits!
$99 Homelite - Worst I have ever used - vibration, noise, etc. They put a carby on them which is flat out or off - fairly easy to get around with a few mods
$170 Homelite blower vac - as above but not even light.
GMC/909 FC blower (now sold $149 through mitre 10 under "Yardforce" and Victa as the 26cc blower vac) great blower, easy starting no real complaints - actually a bloody good blower
Honda 4st - no complaints but $$$
The aussie made atom blowers are good, but the cheap ones use a ryobi type FC engine - go for a zenoah engined or Honda 4st one
Can't think of any others I have used besides a Pope blower (alright but heavy - echo knock off), and some older Mccullochs and Ozitos I have which are either light and vibrate your arm off or heavy and still vibrate bad
By the way - here is another tanaka knock off https://www.tradetools.com/product-range/outdoor-power-equipment/blowers-and-vacs/renegade-225cc-2-stroke-blower?
It's all too hard. I think it's easier to stick with the old Ryobi blower attachment on the Ryan powered lawn hornet that works quite well even if it's length can get in the way. Not sure I even want a vacuum.
Makes me wish I tried to get going the Ryan powered MTD blower vac I found and kept in the yard for years before throwing it away. It had a huge fat diameter blower shute.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
At 4.1kg it is easy to carry and well balanced, sounds crisp to me, maybe call into a Parklander stockist near you and see if they have a demo model they can fire up for you ? Comes with all accessories.
At 4.1kg it is easy to carry and well balanced, sounds crisp to me, maybe call into a Parklander stockist near you and see if they have a demo model they can fire up for you ? [/quote]
I'll see what I can do. Thanks for that.
Hi Tyler, [quote=Tyler]MF - I just picked up one of those MTD vacs - just need to get it going (carby)
Vacuuming is always harder on the machine - especially in sandy areas as the sand obliterates the fan disc and housing[/quote]
We had a neighbour buy a fancy blower vac a few years ago and it kept getting jammed with those seed pods from his maple tree. That put me off them. I'm happy to pick up excess material by hand. It's that blower function I want for stray clippings on paths after mowing and edging.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
