OK, so over the last 6 years I have gone through 2 Craftsman Leaf Blowers. The first one lasted 3 years and just blew up one day. It wasn't bad. the second one I got was a pain in my ass since day 1. It vibrated like crazy to the point your hands hurt, the kill switch quit working (I fixed it finally, pinched wire broke) it was hard to start and you had to let it warm up for 15 minutes before it would run wide open. I cleaned the carb, tried everything it just ran crappy.

Well finally the pull cord bound up and came off the spool so I took it apart again for the 10th time, and I can't get the spool off because it requires a special spanner wrench so it sits in a giant pile on my bench.

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display. Knowing I was going to need the leaf blower and the Craftsman is on my bench in pieces and I was likely going to say screw it and buy a new one I decided to just bite the bullet. I couldn't decide if I wanted to get another Craftsman or pay $70 more for a Stihl. I mean it blows air, whats the big deal?

Let me tell you it was WORTH it.

1. It is light, WAY lighter than the behemoth Craftsman.

2. It is so smooth! Virtually no vibration at all. It was AMAZING.

3. It is quiet. The Craftsman was deafening, this thing is 1/4 the sound level.

4.The controls rock, the Craftsman had a paddle for a throttle and you had to hold it open, not this one.

5. The Craftsman had a decal that said 205MPH for the air velocity, the Stihl says 190MPH. If the craftsman was 205MPH my name isn't Pete. The Stihl blows it away. I tried it out when I got home and it was even blowing heavy wet leaves.

I am done with sears and Craftsman. My 10 year old string trimmer is on its last legs. when it goes I am getting a Stihl.

OK, so over the last 6 years I have gone through 2 Craftsman Leaf Blowers. The first one lasted 3 years and just blew up one day. It wasn't bad. the second one I got was a pain in my ass since day 1. It vibrated like crazy to the point your hands hurt, the kill switch quit working (I fixed it finally, pinched wire broke) it was hard to start and you had to let it warm up for 15 minutes before it would run wide open. I cleaned the carb, tried everything it just ran crappy.

Well finally the pull cord bound up and came off the spool so I took it apart again for the 10th time, and I can't get the spool off because it requires a special spanner wrench so it sits in a giant pile on my bench.

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display. Knowing I was going to need the leaf blower and the Craftsman is on my bench in pieces and I was likely going to say screw it and buy a new one I decided to just bite the bullet. I couldn't decide if I wanted to get another Craftsman or pay $70 more for a Stihl. I mean it blows air, whats the big deal?

Let me tell you it was WORTH it.

1. It is light, WAY lighter than the behemoth Craftsman.

2. It is so smooth! Virtually no vibration at all. It was AMAZING.

3. It is quiet. The Craftsman was deafening, this thing is 1/4 the sound level.

4.The controls rock, the Craftsman had a paddle for a throttle and you had to hold it open, not this one.

5. The Craftsman had a decal that said 205MPH for the air velocity, the Stihl says 190MPH. If the craftsman was 205MPH my name isn't Pete. The Stihl blows it away. I tried it out when I got home and it was even blowing heavy wet leaves.

I am done with sears and Craftsman. My 10 year old string trimmer is on its last legs. when it goes I am getting a Stihl.

Amen.
I did the same thing with two chain saws before getting a Stihl. Amazing power, starting and longevity.
Good choice.
:buddies:

Amen.
I did the same thing with two chain saws before getting a Stihl. Amazing power, starting and longevity.
Good choice.
:buddies:

I had a cheapo Poulan I cut a ton of wood with. Last year I finally got a Stihl chainsaw. It is a BEAST!

when it goes I am getting a Stihl.

:yay:

I still have a Craftsman lawn tractor.

:yay:

I still have a Craftsman lawn tractor.

I do too. It has served me well but recently it had had a problem. I haven't had time to tear it down. It will start and run for a few minutes, then start sputtering and shut down. I need to clean the carb. Then I might sell it. Since I have the John Deere and the 54 inch mower I can do my whole place in 30 minutes :lol:

It will start and run for a few minutes, then start sputtering and shut down.

I have the same problem.

All Hubby's toys are Stihl! Milt smiles when he sees us! :lol:

Milt smiles when he sees us! :lol:

:yay:
Stihl good.
I have a chain saw, trimmer, and back-pack blower.

All are awe-some.

All Hubby's toys are Stihl! Milt smiles when he sees us! :lol:

Shhhhhhhh I didn't get this one at Milts. Don't tell him.

:yay:
Stihl good.
I have a chain saw, trimmer, and back-pack blower.

All are awe-some.

Backpack blower! :mangrunt:

:yay:
Stihl good.
I have a chain saw, trimmer, and back-pack blower.

All are awe-some.

Hubby has those plus a regular hand blower here at home. He also has access to one of the power pole saw and hedge trimmers through his work. Though it's not a Stihl, his most recent addition to his toy collection is the log splitter he got late last fall. Boy toys are expensive! :faint:

Hubby has those plus a regular hand blower here at home. He also has access to one of the power pole saw and hedge trimmers through his work. Though it's not a Stihl, his most recent addition to his toy collection is the log splitter he got late last fall. Boy toys are expensive! :faint:

Go bake some cookies.

:lmao: Actually, the plan was to make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake and a Banana Rum Cake this weekend anyway!! Might even do some more baking. Cold and rainy days make me want to cook or bake.

OK, so over the last 6 years I have gone through 2 Craftsman Leaf Blowers. The first one lasted 3 years and just blew up one day. It wasn't bad. the second one I got was a pain in my ass since day 1. It vibrated like crazy to the point your hands hurt, the kill switch quit working (I fixed it finally, pinched wire broke) it was hard to start and you had to let it warm up for 15 minutes before it would run wide open. I cleaned the carb, tried everything it just ran crappy.

Well finally the pull cord bound up and came off the spool so I took it apart again for the 10th time, and I can't get the spool off because it requires a special spanner wrench so it sits in a giant pile on my bench.

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display. Knowing I was going to need the leaf blower and the Craftsman is on my bench in pieces and I was likely going to say screw it and buy a new one I decided to just bite the bullet. I couldn't decide if I wanted to get another Craftsman or pay $70 more for a Stihl. I mean it blows air, whats the big deal?

Let me tell you it was WORTH it.

1. It is light, WAY lighter than the behemoth Craftsman.

2. It is so smooth! Virtually no vibration at all. It was AMAZING.

3. It is quiet. The Craftsman was deafening, this thing is 1/4 the sound level.

4.The controls rock, the Craftsman had a paddle for a throttle and you had to hold it open, not this one.

5. The Craftsman had a decal that said 205MPH for the air velocity, the Stihl says 190MPH. If the craftsman was 205MPH my name isn't Pete. The Stihl blows it away. I tried it out when I got home and it was even blowing heavy wet leaves.

I am done with sears and Craftsman. My 10 year old string trimmer is on its last legs. when it goes I am getting a Stihl.

Not sure what model mine is and I have had it a few years. Best I've ever used. Mine has the start on re-coil( pull the rope easy and after you release it the motor spins) best invention yet. Anybody can start it.

Is your name really Pete?

OK, so over the last 6 years I have gone through 2 Craftsman Leaf Blowers. The first one lasted 3 years and just blew up one day. It wasn't bad. the second one I got was a pain in my ass since day 1. It vibrated like crazy to the point your hands hurt, the kill switch quit working (I fixed it finally, pinched wire broke) it was hard to start and you had to let it warm up for 15 minutes before it would run wide open. I cleaned the carb, tried everything it just ran crappy.

Well finally the pull cord bound up and came off the spool so I took it apart again for the 10th time, and I can't get the spool off because it requires a special spanner wrench so it sits in a giant pile on my bench.

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display. Knowing I was going to need the leaf blower and the Craftsman is on my bench in pieces and I was likely going to say screw it and buy a new one I decided to just bite the bullet. I couldn't decide if I wanted to get another Craftsman or pay $70 more for a Stihl. I mean it blows air, whats the big deal?

Let me tell you it was WORTH it.

1. It is light, WAY lighter than the behemoth Craftsman.

2. It is so smooth! Virtually no vibration at all. It was AMAZING.

3. It is quiet. The Craftsman was deafening, this thing is 1/4 the sound level.

4.The controls rock, the Craftsman had a paddle for a throttle and you had to hold it open, not this one.

5. The Craftsman had a decal that said 205MPH for the air velocity, the Stihl says 190MPH. If the craftsman was 205MPH my name isn't Pete. The Stihl blows it away. I tried it out when I got home and it was even blowing heavy wet leaves.

I am done with sears and Craftsman. My 10 year old string trimmer is on its last legs. when it goes I am getting a Stihl.

That STIHL display is going to be my demise..

I can't help stopping and looking.. one of those string trimmers have my name on it.. the one with the BIGGEST motor.. yeah that one.

But BG has these silly rules.. NO buying something if we already have one that works..

DAMN YOU WEEDWHACKER!!

Is your name really Pete?

No, it's not but I think Pete's is :howdy:

I never have leaves. so no leaf blower for me..

DAMN YOU WEEDWHACKER!!

1) Add some water to the fuel
2) Try starting
3) When it fails to fire angrily toss it across the driveway BUT make sure it lands on the asphalt so it can break into several smaller pieces. *just make sure Bubba isn't around when tossing the trimmer.*
4) Curse angrily and storm off to Carroll's but remember they close @ 12 on Saturdays.:wink:

Who needs a Stihl when you have a hand held jet engine? 600mph exhaust velocity :-)

Who needs a Stihl when you have a hand held jet engine? 600mph exhaust velocity :-)

Friend of mine in PA took an airboat engine and blade, mounted it to the front of his tractor.. He had NO control where they went, but they weren't in his yard..

here is what you can do with those cheapo blowers and a roll of duct tape

http://home.comcast.net/~bobswartz/nye_jet.jpg

Ive learned over the years now, too many years to mention, Ive had the Craftsmen brands, the Poulan brands and have had problems with both brands. Ive replaced everything with Stihl. Ive got the line trimmer, handheld blower, edger, hedge trimmer and last week added the pole saw to my collection, wouldnt have anything but a Stihl. Never had a problem yet. Get all my stuff at Hugh Gardiner in Faulkner.

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display. Knowing I was going to need the leaf blower and the Craftsman is on my bench in pieces and I was likely going to say screw it and buy a new one I decided to just bite the bullet. I couldn't decide if I wanted to get another Craftsman or pay $70 more for a Stihl. I mean it blows air, whats the big deal?

Let me tell you it was WORTH it.

1. It is light, WAY lighter than the behemoth Craftsman.

2. It is so smooth! Virtually no vibration at all. It was AMAZING.

3. It is quiet. The Craftsman was deafening, this thing is 1/4 the sound level.

4.The controls rock, the Craftsman had a paddle for a throttle and you had to hold it open, not this one.

5. The Craftsman had a decal that said 205MPH for the air velocity, the Stihl says 190MPH. If the craftsman was 205MPH my name isn't Pete. The Stihl blows it away. I tried it out when I got home and it was even blowing heavy wet leaves.

I am done with sears and Craftsman. My 10 year old string trimmer is on its last legs. when it goes I am getting a Stihl.Pete, does your Stihl blow acorns around? I'm tired of raking 10 wheel barrow loads from under one dayum tree every year. Want a leaf blower from hell that will blow the acorns out of the lawn. Gonna get the backpack Stihl BR 600. Think that'll blow stuff around?

So today I was down at Carroll's getting tractor stuff and noticed the Stihl display.

Could you tell us how much you paid down at Carrolls for your BG86? I too am done with my Craftsman blower and looking for a Stihl. I was thinking of ordering it online, but if Carrolls can come close, I'll support the local economy.

If Carrolls is a Stihl dealer it will be $229.95. Thats what it goes for at a dealer, its possible dealer may drop $10-20 bucks off if your a regular customer. Always better to buy from dealer instead of a Lowes or Home Depot just in case something goes wrong, stores have to send out to get fixed, dealers repair things much quicker.

What he said. I googled it on my BB while standing there and the retail price was $229.95. One place was a few bucks cheaper online but that did not include shipping which would have put it over.

If oyu are in the north end of the county Milt's is a dealer as well. I like Milt. :yay:

Bought the Stihl BR600 Saturday. All I can say is don't point it at the siding on your house, it will blow it off. :lol: I blows leaves wet or dry, sticks, acorns, and anything else that's not nailed down.

No, I didn't blow the siding off my house.

Bought the Stihl BR600 Saturday. All I can say is don't point it at the siding on your house, it will blow it off. :lol: I blows leaves wet or dry, sticks, acorns, and anything else that's not nailed down.

No, I didn't blow the siding off my house.

I know I haven't seen one of my cats in 3 days.

Bought the Stihl BR600 Saturday. All I can say is don't point it at the siding on your house, it will blow it off. :lol: I blows leaves wet or dry, sticks, acorns, and anything else that's not nailed down.

No, I didn't blow the siding off my house.


This is the one I have, it's about a year old... here soon it will prolly lose some of its power, Milts pretty much has it narrowed down that once it breaks it, it needs some minor tweaking...

I have NO complaints about mine though :yay: