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Stihl backpack blower

cdestuck

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2013
Messages
1,462
Location
Altoona, Pa
Well I decided to treat myself with a upgrade. Last year I bought a BR700. Really liked it and tons of whop. But in having it I discovered the 800 with the side pull would be the cat’s meow in restarting it while on my back.

So went to my dealer who I get along with great to see what he would do on swapping me up to the 800. Being the 800 retail is 100 bucks more and I was trading in a used machine, I was optimistic hoping for a quote of 250 difference. My old one was in like new condition but it is a used machine. Well my guy gave me a quote of 200 bucks to upgrade. However he had no 800s in stock, they’re due in but they just couldn’t say when. Well within 30 minutes they called and the 800s arrived. So back I went and deal is done.

Did some playing when I got home and well pleased.
 
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glentre

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Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
909
Location
Gloucester, Virginia
I also looked at the BR800 before buying the 700. In all the years I ran my 550, not once did it die while on my back so having a side pull to allow starting from your back seems like a useless feature for a well adjusted and tuned Stihl.

After only a few days of working with my new 700, I noticed it uses a whole lot more gas than my old 550. Guess the bigger engine is more of a gas guzzler than I thought it would be.

Glen
 

rlitman

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Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,591
Location
Long Island
I also looked at the BR800 before buying the 700. In all the years I ran my 550, not once did it die while on my back so having a side pull to allow starting from your back seems like a useless feature for a well adjusted and tuned Stihl.

Glen

I've never had my BR500 die on my back except the few times I accidentally hit the lever. However, there have been many times I've needed to shut it down and then restart. Usually when children walk by or I need to talk to someone.
 

Mr.N

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Joined
Jul 13, 2005
Messages
2,221
Location
Mpls, MN
Stihl, Echo, Redmax are all good. Buy what the local shops support.

Last year I bought a 600, didn't like it and returned it for a 700 and I was really impressed.
We just got 7" of wet snow in Minneapolis and at 6" I was able to blow it off the driveway and make a path for mailman and what not. If in doubt, get the 700.
 
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Mr.N

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Joined
Jul 13, 2005
Messages
2,221
Location
Mpls, MN
I've never had my BR500 die on my back except the few times I accidentally hit the lever.
Really?

Yeah, never for me. Not when I was going to throttle up and went the wrong way... or the time my thumb slipped or when I forgot what it did if you hit it down... yeah that's the ticket
 

thammel

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Messages
2,242
Location
Maryland
I love my 600 magnum. Plenty of power. It was the the best at the time...about 5 years ago.
 

58Yeoman

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Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
8,999
Location
Central IL
Used my BR 549...no, wait, that's a different thing. I used my BR800X on leaves today, and blew them into the next county. But, I always have trouble getting the left ********.
 

Farmall450

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Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
13,355
Location
Marengo, Illinois
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.

The side pull is nice, don't rip on it and you won't have problems. No different than any of their saws w/ the "C" designation.
 

Farmall450

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Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
13,355
Location
Marengo, Illinois
Stihl, Echo, Redmax are all good. Buy what the local shops support.

Last year I bought a 600, didn't like it and returned it for a 700 and I was really impressed.
We just got 7" of wet snow in Minneapolis and at 6" I was able to blow it off the driveway and make a path for mailman and what not. If in doubt, get the 700.

This. Seems the new Echo 8010 is temporarily "king" regarding power, but I'm sure that will change when one of the others drops an update.
 

Farmall450

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
13,355
Location
Marengo, Illinois
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.

X is $60 less and does not feature the side start. Otherwise the same.
 
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