I've always wanted a stihl br600 magnum backpack blower. I know they used to make a br-600 and a br-600 magnum. Do they still make both models? I'm getting conflicting information and I only see plain br-600 on stihls website. Anyone got any info on this? Thanks in advance
Stihl backpack blower
- Thread starter mc1984ss
- Start date
karoc
Well-known member
I have one that is now I guess about six yrs old and it still starts just like it did when new.I always been an echo guy cause of the cheaper price but no more. I will spring for the extra cost for stihl cause its worth it year after yr.
Bent Handle
Well-known member
I believe there is only one br600 whether it has a magnum sticker or not. I’ve owned several of them. The br700 is quite a bit stronger and the br800 is a whole different beast.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
My Stihl SH85C started giving problems. Diagnosed as a starter side crank seal. Less than $10, less than 30 minutes R&R, back running.
rlitman
Well-known member
As far as I understand, the Magnum version revved a little higher and has slightly different fan parts for a tiny performance edge.
Juiced06GTO
Well-known member
My Stihl BR600 is going on 11 years old now and still runs like a champ. I haven't had a chance to try out their new bigger units, but if they are anything like the 600 you can't go wrong.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Go for it. When you can blow a brick across the drive way, you know you have the right machine. I was advised not to get the 800 as "I didn't weigh enough" 
iSpark
Well-known member
I have the 800. I used it once. I'm not man enough 
Probably going to sell it. :\
Probably going to sell it. :\
Bent Handle
Well-known member
I’m sure it didn’t rev higher, the br550-700 all have the same engine. They all have different fan and arm setups though. Maybe the magnum was the equivalent of the br700 before it came out. The br600 is a nice blower, but the br700 built on the same frame is noticeably more powerful. The br800 is completely redesigned and has a larger engine, and is a heavier unit, but works great if you need to move a pile of wet leaves.
JOE.G
Well-known member
I have the BR 600 Magnum, I purchased it back in 2012 I think and it has never missed a beat. I did try the BR700 when it came out and it was slightly more powerful not enough for me to trade the 600 in for one but if buying new Id have purchased the 700.
rlitman
Well-known member
The BR500 has the same short block too. All rev to different speeds. The spark is electronically controlled by the electronic coil/ignition module, and each model uses a different coil and has different carb jets.
JOE.G
Well-known member
So can the 600 be brought up to 700 Specs?
Bent Handle
Well-known member
I stand corrected, they are “tuned” to different rpm specs.
rlitman
Well-known member
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
The difference is insignificant for the casual user. The 600 will blast wet leaves with the best of them.
I move a lot of leaves over an open area so I chose the 700 over the 600 because of the larger adjustable nozzel and more cfm.
It's still hard to get used to the 4 stroke though, always feels like it should be reving higher.
It's still hard to get used to the 4 stroke though, always feels like it should be reving higher.
goodwrench
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2006
- Messages
- 172
the magnum was just marketing name. it was to signify an improved model with all the updates. all the 600’s are all the same. they made lots of improvements along the way to address problems that came up. i would not even look at the 700. the mph are way too low and that makes a huge difference, not enough scour to move stuff, great for feathers. go 600 or 800. the 800 is well worth it, it has the mph of the 600 and the cfm of the 700.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
I bought a BR600 a few years ago for all my leaves at home. I bought it lightly used from and older gentleman. It was $200 bucks and had been maybe used 5x.
I used it for my lawn care venture this spring summer. It’s pretty much the gold standard around here with lawn companies. I think the price difference is only 50 bucks to go from 6 to 700 and the another 50 to go to 800. If you’re going to drop 500 , what the hells another hundo, lol
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I used it for my lawn care venture this spring summer. It’s pretty much the gold standard around here with lawn companies. I think the price difference is only 50 bucks to go from 6 to 700 and the another 50 to go to 800. If you’re going to drop 500 , what the hells another hundo, lol
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Bent Handle
Well-known member
I own all 3 blowers. I wholeheartedly disagree. The 700 is noticeably stronger than the 600s in a pile of damp leaves. The 800 is quite a bit more powerful yet, but heavier. I’ve got the 800 with the side pull, the blower is great, but the side pull is a love/hate relationship.
tj675
Well-known member
Agree with this as well. I have a 700 and my neighbor has an 800 with side pull. My 700 does a stellar job with leaves. I love the idea of getting the 800 restarted without taking it off though.
glentre
Well-known member
I have an approximate 6 yr old BR550 which gets a lot of use. A fine machine that always starts and never quits once on your back. However, two weeks ago, it did just quit. Problem is a hung up exhaust valve due to carbon buildup. Stihl sells a decarbonizing liquid for these BR blowers which is an admission these 4-mix engines have a tendency to carbon up in the cylinder. Many on the Stihl forums suggest running Seafoam, MM Oil or some other cleaning agent in these engines to prevent this from happening. I'm working on freeing up the valve now but may have to tear into it to resolve the problem. If I can't get it loose today, I'm buying a new blower and saving the old one for a winter project. My new buy will be another Stihl, probably a BR600 but I'll be more diligent with maintenance this time.
Glen
Glen
rlitman
Well-known member
They’re notorious for carboning up if you use conventional oil, or mix the oil richer than 50:1. With synthetic 50:1 oil, most machines live out long lives without carbon issues. They do need occasional valve adjustment.
JOE.G
Well-known member
I use the Stihl Ultra oil 50:1 in all of my Stihl 4 mix engines, Is it suggested to run Seafoam once in awhile?
I've got the BR450 and am happy with it. I picked it because it was the biggest 2-Stroke Stihl offered. We have a .75 acre lot with lots of trees, and it blows them around just fine.
The harness/backpack straps on the BR800 look to be worth the price increase alone!
The harness/backpack straps on the BR800 look to be worth the price increase alone!
cdestuck
Well-known member
What’s the part of the side pull start that you don’t like. I bought the 700 last fall and wish I would have spent extra for the 800 just to have the side pull. In fact going to the dealer Monday to ck on trading up.
Bent Handle
Well-known member
2 things:
1. The pull cord is an easy start recoil, when it’s cold outside and the blower is cold I wish I could just rip on the cord a couple times, but that’s not how it works. They have to have the assisted recoil though with the side start.
2. If the blower sits for a little bit it doesn’t like to restart without the choke flipped on. But I already threw it on my back not thinking about it and the choke is on the back of the blower. So I take it off, choke it, start it and put it back on.
cdestuck
Well-known member
Tks for those 2 points. Like hearing real users input.
rlitman
Well-known member
Jasonsamara
Member
Any love for RedMax? I chose a 8k series over Stihl about 15 years ago and it still runs very strong and never had a problem. I was told at the time the Stihl was like a Porsche, very refined and strong in a narrow range. The RedMax is like a 60’s big block muscle car, just pure raw power. My dad begged me to get a Stihl like he had, but now we both have a RedMax.
58Yeoman
Well-known member
I bought a Stihl 800X about 2 years ago, and I like it. I'm 70 and can carry it easily. I do have a bit of trouble getting my left arm in the shoulder strap, though. Haven't had any trouble with it yet, and it blows all my leaves away.
Bent Handle
Well-known member
I kind of forget about the harness because I usually don’t bother buckling it up. The harness on the br800 is vastly superior and can distribute weight to your hips and shoulder. I assume the br800x is the same but haven’t seen one. Think hiking backpack vs school backpack.
For me the shoulder straps always slide off my shoulders as my traps form a fairly steep angle from my neck to my shoulders, and there is no chest strap to tie the two shoulder straps together. If I used it for more then an hour a week here and there (more in the fall obv) then I would prob sell it and get the 800.
240sxguy
Well-known member
My dad has a br700 and that thing is an animal compared to my bg56. It dang near knocked me over.
B T C
Well-known member
It might be worthwhile to do some brand comparisons, assuming you haven’t already. A lawn forum that I read regularly seems to have good things to say about the current iteration of ECHO blowers. A lot of people seem to like Redmax products as well. Dealer support is also very important. I’m just a homeowner and have had Stihl’s 130 Kombi system for 8-9 years. I like it and it’s never given me a minute’s worth of trouble, knock on wood.
Jon_E
Well-known member
My grounds crew at work has a BR600 Magnum. About four years old now, starts and runs flawlessly. Only thing it has occasional problems with, is a lot of wet leaves. I'm planning on getting them a BR800 for next season.
Chuckster in NJ
Well-known member
REDMAX. I have a 8001 and it BLOWS....... Leaves.
glentre
Well-known member
Very interesting comments from all on different blower selections.
With regard to my BR550, not only could I not free up the valve by filling the cylinder with Seafoam and leaving it overnight, I pressed down on the valve spring to try to mechanically loosen the valve and in so doing, the push rod fell off the cam and fell down inside the engine. I put it back together and laid it aside for a winter teardown project.
Yesterday, I bought a Stihl BR700 and am very pleased with its performance......way more powerful than my old 550 and meets my needs. I chose Stihl because I have other Stihl equipment and can rely on two local dealers for service. We're in a rural area and these dealers are old school friendly folks who take the time to chat and know your name. That means something to me.
Glen
With regard to my BR550, not only could I not free up the valve by filling the cylinder with Seafoam and leaving it overnight, I pressed down on the valve spring to try to mechanically loosen the valve and in so doing, the push rod fell off the cam and fell down inside the engine. I put it back together and laid it aside for a winter teardown project.
Yesterday, I bought a Stihl BR700 and am very pleased with its performance......way more powerful than my old 550 and meets my needs. I chose Stihl because I have other Stihl equipment and can rely on two local dealers for service. We're in a rural area and these dealers are old school friendly folks who take the time to chat and know your name. That means something to me.
Glen