Is it just the Rat, or is it the equipment....

[yardboy]

None of this handheld stuff seems to last anymore, the Rat has forked out tons of $$$$ on handheld crap every year. It just does not handle the abuse of Yards By Yardrat mowing crew. Has anyone looked into the Dolmar 7601 Backpack blowers also branded as a Makita BBX7600. It uses straight gas and oil is contained in the engine such as a true 4-stroker. The Rat has ordered one from Amazon.com for 429.00 and free shipping to see if this thing will outlast any of the other many brands I have tried. Full review to come...........................

[steve-o]

It's All Them Mexicans You Have In Jersey.............

None of this handheld stuff seems to last anymore, the Rat has forked out tons of $$$$ on handheld crap every year. It just does not handle the abuse of Yards By Yardrat mowing crew. Has anyone looked into the Dolmar 7601 Backpack blowers also branded as a Makita BBX7600. It uses straight gas and oil is contained in the engine such as a true 4-stroker. The Rat has ordered one from Amazon.com for 429.00 and free shipping to see if this thing will outlast any of the other many brands I have tried. Full review to come...........................

hire some good ole americans who won't abuse your stuff..........

steve-o

[GeeVee]

Yes. Its the rst.

[yardboy]

I hope the Mexicans don't abuse it......................

Ahhhhhh, Yes it arrived............... One day shipping from Amazon...... Started on first pull after adding 10w-30 motor oil and straight gas. Blows a little bit harder than our Redmax 7001's but not as hard as a new 8001. However it outblows our 8001's cause they are a lil older than new............Testing to start next week. I really like it so far, only blew my yard off with it though. Oil is simple to check and has a large filler neck, real nice unit. It is equipped with a Robin engine. Same as the Dolmar unit.

[MASTERMOWER]

I can't see how you'd expect that to outlast conventional 2-cycle equipment?

Wait to write your review until next summer, initial impressions are near meaningless. :alien::alien::alien:

[steve-o]

I Gotta Agree With College Boy On This One Rat......

I can't see how you'd expect that to outlast conventional 2-cycle equipment?

Wait to write your review until next summer, initial impressions are near meaningless. :alien::alien::alien:

i buy my stuff from amazon also........

steve-o

[yardboy]

I can't see how you'd expect that to outlast conventional 2-cycle equipment?

Wait to write your review until next summer, initial impressions are near meaningless. :alien::alien::alien:

I agree it needs a long test period.
The newer 2-cycle equipment with all the emmisions restrictions runs like crap. Five new blowers this year and 2 run decent, the other three headed to the shop next week. String trimmers 6 new ones, they all run like crap by mid season. You use to could buy a piece of 2 cycle equipment to last trouble free except for the spark arrestor for a long while, now you cannot. Looking for other solutions. Dealer missed out Friday though, one crew called and had a blower down, I went to the dealer to drop it off and buy a new Echo to try it out and he had a sign on the front door -Gone Hunting. So I decided to try something different, thats where the Makita falls into play.

The items bought this year were Redmax.

i buy my stuff from amazon also........

steve-o

So we got a fricking comedian in the house......:laughing:


On another note.......................
I tried the 4-mix stihls a while back, (2) extended hedge trimmers still run decent. The rest of the blowers and string trimmers were smashed by the Cat Dozer at the landfill after enduring about a year of the Rats mowing service.

[MASTERMOWER]

Yeah, emission regulations really hurt 2 cycle equipment. Ethanol fuel doesn't help anything either.

From my experience, newer Redmax equipment is ****ty. I have a little stratocharged blower that requires constant care to keep it running decent.

I have 2 Stihl BR600 blowers, one of which developed problems after nearly 3 years of service. I haven't bothered to do much with it due to it's age. The other is over a year old now....no problems as of yet. I've heard one must have the valves routinely adjusted on the Stihl 4-Mix engines. I never do, could be a problem. All Stihl 4-Mix trimmers/brushcutters suck IMO. I bought two FS90R trimmers and both didn't last much beyond one year, dealer told me they were trash. I have a feeling the valves in Stihl 4-Mix equipment cannot handle constant fluctuation in RPM (perhaps why I have success with the BR600 blowers and not with trimmers?), or maybe the valves in the blowers are just of a better design? Go to a Stihl dealer and ask if they have any FS80R units left in stock...if they do buy them all. You won't regret it.

[roost-1]

Have not seen a new 80 or 85 for over a year. I had to buy a new handheld blower this fall, Stihl sh86, we will see if it lasts.