Already thinking about leaf cleanup
- Thread starter lawn mower fanatic
- Start date
Ric
Lawn Pro
Well No It's not like the Stihl is a Toyota Prius and the Echo is a V8 but look at this way, if you use the machine the BR 600 vs the 770T it would save you enough money in fuel cost alone in one year that you could buy another 255LN. It's not always about the biggest and baddest, it should be the bottom line at the end of the year, how much money goes in your pocket.
I think your approach to this machine is all wrong. I've always said in lawn care time is money and either machine you buy the 600 or 770T could and would save you a really good amount of time everyday, enough that you could maybe add another cut at the end of the day but if your not using it, it can't pay for itself. If your going to buy this blower and us it only for fall cleanup your wasting your time and money, don't buy it. It should be your primary blower and be used on ever job you do during the day and the 255 becomes your back up.
Mad Mackie
Lawn Addict
I use my BR 600 at every place that I mow to cleanup along the street, sidewalks and driveway. I usually trim first trying to direct the clippings toward the lawn area that I will mow and collect and lastly blow everything clean including my machine which I park on the lawn somewhere so when I blow it down, the dust and stuff stay on the lawn.
One place that I do takes me 30 to 45 minutes to blow the parking area clean. With a hand held blower, it took me much longer.
I will say that my BR 600 is very easy on fuel consumption and a full tank will outlast my endurance to wear and operate it, but I'm 71 with a bad back and torn rotor cuffs in both shoulders, but I keep trucking despite the discomfort!!! Thus my primary reason for the lightest weight back pack blower. This is my 6th season with the same BR 600, nice machine!!!
As for moving leaves in the fall, there is an art to this as it is very easy to accumulate an unmanageable pile of leaves. It is like dealing with snow in the winter. I need to make room by moving snow on my lawn areas to make room to put the snow that I clear from the driveway.
Just a few thoughts from Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:
One place that I do takes me 30 to 45 minutes to blow the parking area clean. With a hand held blower, it took me much longer.
I will say that my BR 600 is very easy on fuel consumption and a full tank will outlast my endurance to wear and operate it, but I'm 71 with a bad back and torn rotor cuffs in both shoulders, but I keep trucking despite the discomfort!!! Thus my primary reason for the lightest weight back pack blower. This is my 6th season with the same BR 600, nice machine!!!
As for moving leaves in the fall, there is an art to this as it is very easy to accumulate an unmanageable pile of leaves. It is like dealing with snow in the winter. I need to make room by moving snow on my lawn areas to make room to put the snow that I clear from the driveway.
Just a few thoughts from Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:
Last edited:
lawn mower fanatic
Lawn Pro
Well maybe it will become my main blower. Once I use it for awhile maybe I will like the power and stop using my 255. But I won't know if I don't buy it. In my opinion if I can shorten the length of a leaf cleanup so I can fill the schedule with more jobs, and I can pay for the blower quickly and start making profit, then it as a good decision.
lawn mower fanatic
Lawn Pro
Just wanted to give you all an update. Today I went to my local dealer and picked up the PB-770T. There were just a few things that made me lean towards this over the BR 600. Some of these include the fact it is 2 cycle, which is virtually maintenance free. Even though you (Ric) said you never had to adjust the valves on your Stihl, I hear a lot of people say they do have to, and it makes me think it might depend on the climate you live in (maybe). So that kind of pulled me away from the Stihl. There were other things as well, including the fact most people say the 770 has a bit more power than the 600, and since I'm spending $500 on a blower, I figured it should have the most power possible. Other than the Redmax 8500 and the Husqvarna (don't know the model), most people agree this is the next most powerful blower. So I bought it, and I have to say that I love it. Although it weighs around 24 lbs, I will have to say it feels extremely light when it's on your back. I don't know if it was because of the padding on the shoulder straps, but it didn't feel heavy at all. It was also quieter than I thought. It wasn't QUIET, but it wasn't horribly loud. It was just an average power equipment noise level. Which is another good thing...not too loud. Now it's killing me that I don't have any lawns to do until Monday. I want to use it. But I really want to use it on leaves, to see how much more powerful it is compared to my handheld. Unfortunately that won't come until October. But I wanted to get it broken in before then, which is why I bought it now. Thank you all for your advice on here, I know I didn't get the Stihl, but what you all said did help. After all, I originally wanted to get the new for 2015 PB-580, and I'm glad I got this instead. Here are some pics. What do you think.
lawn mower fanatic
Lawn Pro
Good to hear! Now my attention goes to getting more and more leaf cleanups, because I want to use this!! I will be getting a "family photo" of all of my Echo equipment tomorrow morning....I think this will be the centerpiece.
Mad Mackie
Lawn Addict
We all knew that you would by an Echo!!!!
lawn mower fanatic
Lawn Pro
I really was close to buying the Stihl, but then I just kept doing more research, and I realized I wanted the Echo.
Ric
Lawn Pro
Yeah I think we all new that was coming. There was never any doubt. I wondered why there was a discussion?