Poulan blowers

[Yard]

Anybody use poulan blowers before?

[Richawa]

I have a poulan handheld blower , 205 mph, works well for me but not commercial grade though

[MASTERMOWER]

You'll be lucky to get one year of use out of it....seriously. If cost is an issue, I'd recommend spending a few more dollars and buying an Echo PB-200 unit for around $150.

[TSG]

I used a Poulan blower for my first year. I had it as a personal one and used it to start the business. I still use it occasionally. It has worked fine for the last 3 years. It is not meant for commercial use but well maintained any machine will last a long time.

Just to expound on the last sentence... I am a believer that any piece of equpment will last a long time if maintained properly (residental equipment included). I have several noncommercial machines that I use. I know most on here won't touch a noncommercial piece of equipment but I don't see a problem with it. I am a one crew business that is part-time, I won't leave my career but I want the extra money to help fund my retirement (I'm 25 years old). I take care of every piece of equipment that I have and it shows. Most LCO's that have multipule crews only use commercial equipment because the employees that run them could care less if they break it or not. They get paid by the hour not by how profitable the business is.

Starting out you can use noncommercial equipment. Don't expect it to last as long but you can get a descent life of out it, especially if you are mechanically inclined and take the time to service it often. I would definately buy a commercial mower though. It will be your bread and butter and it will provide a huge increase in productivity. As for blowers, weed-wackers, and the other small stuff you can get away with using your own personal machines until you can afford to get the commercial equivalent.

Just my thoughts.
Remember I'm just high priced riff-raff

[cut above]

Please do not waste your money on Poulan or any other home-owner equipment. Used commercialy, they will not last 1 year, not to mention be extremely un-efficent.

Please follow MasterMowers advice and spend a few extra $ on a commercial hand held unit. You will be very pleased with Echo's units. They will last many seasons.

Please be advised TSG, that we dont buy commercial units just because we have the money, and for the fact that they will last a little longer through abuse. All units built for commercial use will be much more efficent at their job when compared to non-commercial.

If there's an easier and faster way, I'm all in. Remember: Time=Money in this business. The faster you can get something done, the more money you will make.

[TSG]

Sorry all. I have committed a no-no. I advised wrongly. My bad. I appologize.

I tried to stick my nose where it didn't belong. I should have told this guy that using non-commercial equipment would only lead to ruined equipment and a ruined business due to having him go out and buy the commercial stuff.

I have learned my lesson and I will not give advise to any start-ups or anyone else for that matter.

Agian I appologize for my incompentence and for just plain being wrong.

Sincerely,
TSG

[dandelion]

Hello all,

I am a new user to this, and all, forums, but have found this site particularly interesting because it covers items of interest to me personally.

To TSG: I support you in your views and hope that this forum can accept your comments regarding your start-up....using non-com equip. initially, so I do not think you should be obliged to put your tail so far between your legs.

As for the view on using commercial equipment & reputable service centers, I am in full agreement with most posting I have read on this site. The view is that when running a commercial landscape business, your machines will see many times the hours/week as the typical consumer. Although I completely agree with you on the maintenance and care of equipment, the hours of use will ultimately render non-commercial machines useless, it still comes down to machine hours, no-matter how well maintained.

Although I am not familiar with Poulan back-pack blowers, I do know that some of the other equipment that is produced by this company is for residential use. When selecting commercial (long operating hour) units, things to look for are; cast-iron sleeves (vs. aluminum bores), cast or forged rods (vs. 2-piece stamped steel), dual ball-bearing support (vs. single – typically noted on a front start engine).

NOTE: The above comments are targeted at the 2-stroke engine as per this discussion, but also x-late to all commercial equipment. The reason commercial equipment is much more expensive is in these types of details.

Anyway, I hope my comments are welcomed to this group…, if not….? I still like small gas engines and lawncare.

B. rgds.

[TSG]

I appreciate the comment dandelion.

As far as others who have ripped me on this forum ( CUT ABOVE ) I don't blame them. They don't want others to think that buying residential equipment is the answer to getting into the business cheaply. It is true that commercial equipment cuts better, lasts longer and is the overall best investment.

CutAbove and other LCO's on this site, don't take my comments as me just being some dumb prick who doesn't know much. I started my side business with a lot of residential equipment that I already had. I felt that it was best for me since I already owned the equipment and therefore didn't need to make a big initial investment. Did I go out and by better equipment when my profits could justify it, damn right I did. But I didn't want to go into debt in the beginning by buying a new 7,000 dollar ZTR or a $600 dollar blower.

Why spend so much just getting into the business only to find out after one season that you hate doing the work. I started small and I don't regret it. So what if some prick wants to feel big, bad and wise and cut me down in front of 11,000 members. That is his opinion.

I like what I do and I'm profitable at it. I take my work seriously and I charge for it. I started out just doing it in the evenings after work and now make an extra $16,000 a year in net profit to help fund some extras in my life and my retirement fund. This was my decision and I'm proud of what I have accomplished.

If you think I'm wrong, right, or stupid then that is the mistake of those poor individuals that think so.

Don't mean to be rude but I hate it in here sometimes when I try to explain to others who want to start small (like I did), ask advise and I'm blasted by giving my opinion and examples of what worked for me.

[buster57]

some good points

My brother in law is a commercial painter. He has owned his own company for 30+ years. He has been using a Craftsman circular saw-ala $39 variety, for 25 years. Use what works for you, but understand your exposure if it breaks.

When you first get started, a guy will do what ever it takes to get the job done and maintain cash flow and profitability. You work with what you have. Revenue and hopefully profits will fund better equipment as needed. You can run the risk of buying too much equipment, loosing a job or two, and not being able to pay the bills.

On the other hand, the problem that I have with using residential equipment is that if you have guys on a crew working for you then they depend on the equipment to work until the job is done. If something breaks, and you do not have a back up, then it can cost you a fortune in down time waiting to get a new item. This is why I have 3 or 4 times as many shovels as needed all the time. I never want people to stop work because they can't find a shovel. Well, if you have a home owner blower it may break in the middle of a job. Very bad timing…

This problem is the nature of the business.

[cut above]

TSG,

I think you took my post the wrong way. I am in no way trying to rip you. The sole purpose of me posting that reply was to try and help you and others who might be viewing this thread to the best of my ability. You asked a question and I gave an honest reply. What I posted is only MY opinion based on MY experienses. I have used homeowner equipment and commercial equipment and there is no comparison. If you are just starting, then yes, it is a good idea to start using the equipment that you have, just don't expect to get too much life out of those units. When you grow, you will soon realize the importance and advantage of commercial equipment.

[MASTERMOWER]

TSG...I understand your points. I too started many years ago with handfuls of residential duty equipment, but since then I realized the return on the investment is quite minor compared to buying commercial duty equipment. Originally I bought crappy 21" push mowers for $400. They lasted 2 years tops. I should have purchased Toro Prolines and I bet ya they'd still run to this day. Last year when I had made a return into this biz after I last sold my previous LCO I didn't have much start up capital, I was desperate for a blower so I bought one of these el cheapo Poulan blowers (though it was a Crapsman....but same thing....thats another thread). Anyhow, it only lasted 6 months before it $Hi++ed out. I bought it for $100, yet the Echo I replaced it with cost $150 and is somewhat commercial duty....it still runs like new after being a little over 1 year old. Much more can be said about the Echo than the Crapsman. I could go on and on about this residential duty vs commercial duty equipment. I believe we are all in agreement that one should buy commercial duty over residential duty if provided with the means too.

I believe what others as well as what I am eluding too is if you buy commerical duty from the get go you will make more money in the long run....not meaning the whole efficiency issue, but rather the longer lasting issue.

Take that Crapman blower I bought....$100/6months=$16.66 per month to run the unit. Now take the Echo $150/14months=$9.23 per month (if it where to die today). As you can see it is actually cheaper to run commercial duty equipment and much more profitable!

Dont get me wrong, I am not 100% anti-residential. Residential duty is ok if that is all one can afford starting out, but they should realize it will soon die once the 2 hour work day turns into 10 hours.

[GeeVee]

Consumer grade equipment features single ring pistons. Not worth the trip to the big box retailer.