I want to share my story. I know this is an old thread, but it is a good one with a lot of helpful tips. After today, I have more to add. After reading all of this, I was itching to pull out my very hard to start backpack blower and try some things I read. I bought my pb602 used from a guy for $150 about 2 1/2 years ago. He was some kind of small contractor that was downsizing and just didn't need it anymore. Pretty sure he bought it used from somebody else. He said it was always hard to start, especially cold. Don't think he ever used it much because of that. When he showed it to me, it must have taken him almost 10 minutes and 30+ pulls to get it started. Every once in awhile it would pop, but not start. Once it did start, it ran like a champ. It was worn and used, but not abused or in horrible shape so I gave him his money and just figured it was old gas or some easy fix. Got it home and only used a couple of times that first year just because I didn't have much of need for it AND it was hard to start. Got it out last spring, couldn't get it to start, even with mostly fresh gas. I mix Stabil in with my 2-cycle gas cans, just because sometimes it sits around without being used for months. Had to replace the primer bulb then, too. Fooled with it a couple of times, got lucky and got it started a few times. Only really used it once or twice because it was so hard to get started. It would flood in no time. I would pull the spark plug and see it was soaking wet with gas. Sometimes gas would even start dripping out the muffler. So I would pull the starter rope a few times with the plug out, choke off, to help dry it out. There were a few times that I never could get it to start at all and just put it away in disgust. I am actually a pretty good mechanic and have worked on all kinds of equipment. A few years ago I was even the full time maintenance mechanic for a landscape/mowing company. Anyways, this blower was really starting to get the better of me. I was figuring I would have to tear it apart this spring and do all kinds of work to it or just sell it to someone and be done with it. I downloaded a copy of the Echo manual for my blower right before I found this article, just so I could read the proper cold start instructions. Anyways, after reading both the manual and this article, I got out the blower to see what I could do with it. It was getting late and I really didn't have much more than 10 minutes to fool with it. Here is where it gets interesting. I haven't done anything with it in 4-5 months. Checked the gas, had a little bit left in it from last summer, enough to try it. I didn't really have time to drain it and refill it with "fresh" gas. TRIED to push the primer bulb, but it was pretty chilly today- maybe 45- 50°. That aftermarket (Arnold) primer bulb I put on last year just would not move. It is difficult to reach in the first place and is very hard to squeeze even in warm weather. I picked up the blower and saw there was gas in the primer bulb, so I thought what the heck, just skip trying to prime it. I opened the throttle about 3/4 of the way to full throttle. I know from having had it run before, that position pretty much wide open. Which, IS NOT, what the manual says to do. The manual says open the throttle to the start/idle position, which is about the lowest throttle setting. Anyways, closed the choke. Gave it two weak pulls to build up some compression. Third pull was a good yank. It started right up. It has never started that easily. I moved the throttle down a little and let it run a while. Gradually started to open the choke as it warmed up, but I did it too fast and it shut off. So, I closed the choke again and opened the throttle back to 3/4. Gave it one firm pull and it started right up! It has never done that either. I let it warm up 2-3 minutes then shut it off. Tomorrow I am going to fill the tank and see if this new trick works again. Maybe actually do some clean up with it. What I learned about cold starting mine (but I could be wrong). Most of this is almost the opposite of the manual: 1) Don't use the primer bulb unless necessary. Only if you run it out of gas or otherwise know there is no gas in the carburetor. Using the primer bulb unnecessarily MAY contribute to flooding. If you see gas in the bulb, that probably is good enough. As long as there is gas in the carburetor, that should be enough. 2) Open the throttle to a wide open position, NOT idle/start, as the manual says. The more air flowing though the machine, the better. Less likely to flood. 3) Give it one or two weak pulls before really trying to start it. Helps to fill the combustion chamber with enough fuel vapor and build up compression. Besides not using the primer bulb at all, the two things I did different was to open up the throttle wide and give it two weak pulls before really trying to start it. Hopefully I won't have to deal with it flooding anymore

Yup, power and noise tend to go together. Some exceptions exist, but then it's just a relative reduction. I run four blowers around the house: an old Toro gas blower (weak, but an old friend), Stihl BG85 (powerful handheld!), Stihl BR420 (~BR400, and I echo masiman's comments), and a Parker walk-behind (8hp Honda GX). Each blower has its own purpose, though the backpack does a pretty good job on most things. I would not bother with a backpack blower unless you were going to get to the BR420 level or better. Those little mini-backpack blowers would barely move grass clippings off the sidewalk, much less mountains of leaves! If noise is your main concern, Stihl's 4-mix engines (BR500, 500, 600) are very nice and quiet, and the BR600 in particular is a powerhouse.

Posted by misterfixit1967 My neighbor had a Husq 130 backpack blower which worked well last fall (when it was new). He was using it today and came over to me and said the speed was not the same as he remembered. It was a bit faster than idle but when he opened the throttle it failed to increase speed. We checked the linkage to the carb and it was fine. He took it back to Lowes and they gave him a Troy Bilt blower in exchange and told him that they have had a lot of problems with Husky blowers. Anyone else hear the same story? Bob ============= I have heard of that problem many times. People call it a "Case of industrial dumbasz. #1. Buying any power equipment from a place like Lowes is a good indication that you/he has a classic case of the dumbasz. Lowes people are barely certified to sale something let alone work on it. A simple carb adjustment would have fixed the blower. #2. Anyone who would trade a Husqvarna 130 for anything made by Troy Bilt just confirms that a case of dumbasz has struck again.

Settled in on a 50cc saw and started looking hard ready to purchase. I had landed on a Dolmar 510, but pricing and dealer issues have stopped me. I've got a long-time Dolmar dealer about 25 miles from me, looks to be a good operation and I was ready to buy from them. Problem is they're selling the 510 at $399 and they won't move (throw an extra chain for some good will). After tax, I'm at $425+. I like the saw at $350-360, but at $425, it's on the heavier side and it's bumping up against their 5105 and the Husky 346XP, higher performing 50cc saws. I can get one online, but my dealer says the warranty would be void. I called Dolmar USA and they say although dealers aren't supposed to sell online, if I buy from a dealer, they will register my saw and it can be serviced at any dealer. I have a feeling though, my local Dolmar dealer won't be too happy with me bringing the saw in if I need something done under warranty. So I'm a little sour on Dolmar at the moment. I know I'm pushing it, but I'm trying to get a decent quality 50cc saw for mid to upper $300s - save me in the ballpark of $100 over a 346XP. I'm going to head to the Echo dealers and see where they will go on a 530. One other option I'm seeing out there is an Efco. One of online OPE dealers I often buy parts from sells Efco and I could get a 152 to my door for $368. 51.7cc/3.4HP/10.7 lbs with I think a magnesium crankcase. At least on paper, pretty decent specs for $368 and looks to be a higher end saw than anything I could get from Stihl or Husky at that price. If I need service, there seems to be a fair number of servicing dealers although their sales dealers are thin. I think I've read some decent reviews on the Efco's. I'll be at the Echo dealers over the next few weeks to see what I can get a 530 for, but maybe I should give the Efco 152 a hard look as well. If I'm staying at 50cc, there is also the Husky 353 which can be had for about $375. Looks to be a definite cut above the homeowner Husky saws, not sure though if it's closer to pro end, or consumer end though. I guess I'm getting close - not quite there though.