Little Wonder blowers

[Indiana]

Thinking of adding a Little Wonder blower to my equipment I carry with me.

Anybody have one? I am thinking that the 5 hp would do what I want (blow leaves, help with fall clean-ups, etc...) Maybe the 8hp would be better.

Any information would help.

[SJR Lawncare]

8 Hp would be much better


SJR

[MATTHEW]

I have an 8hp L.W. It will greatly increase productivity for you, and I would highly recommend you get one for the fall. You will really want the 8hp. 5 is not enough.

[lawnboy82]

forget the 8hp briggs. go for the extra couple bucks and get the 9hp honda. the engine will last you longer with fewer problems and give you more power.

[excel25]

I rented one for 2 days, took it back and bought one the next day. Get the 8 or higher:p

[CSRA Landscaping]

I have an 8 HP and I really like it.

[Barkleymut]

I've got the 9HP Honda and paid $1100 for it. The 8 HP B&S were on sale for $600. Maybe I should have got the B&S but I haven't had 1 problem with the Honda and since there is nothing else to go wrong with a push blower (except those @#% tires going flat) I figure this one will last me a decade with 2 oil changes a year and gas.

[stick9]

I love it, but it really needs a parking brake. The thing tends to role away when I'm using it ...


StiCK-ninE

[Getmow]

I agree with all get more HP. I had the 11 briggs with no trouble in three seasons. Try foam filling the tires before the fall season starts barkleymut.

[CCLC]

I have an old style 8 hp and love it. Last fall I rented a new style 9hp Honda for a while. The new housing is amazing. You probably won't notice too much difference in the 8 hp or 9 hp other than the Honda will start every time on the first pull. At least all my Hondas do...that is more than I can say for some of my briggs!

[Runner]

I have the 8 hp. Briggs and I love it. Mine starts first pull most every time. Once in a while, it takes two pulls. This is when it has sat for a month or so. Hey, CCLC, you wanna do breakfast sometime?

[Indiana]

Thanks for all the replies. WOW, never got that many so quick.

Must have struck a nerve, HA.

I was thinking of the 5 hp, but now I will go with the 8 hp.

Again, Thank-you for the responses from everybody.

Hope this saves me time on those fall clean-ups.

I looked at the blower today, and the dealer told me $600 for the 8hp Briggs I/C. Pretty good price, I think. Probably go and get it Thursday or Friday.

[Barkleymut]

Thats a really good price, jump on it.

[SCAPEASAURUSREX]

I have the 8hp and think it's great. The briggs can be a little rough running at times and hard to start especially after sittng for a while , but it hasn't let me down, Well except for the time it caught on fire.. that sucked , but luckily no damage.. the shop said that it must have tilted in the trailer and gas got into the muffler and when I started it .. it became a flame thrower.. scary stuff man especailly since the homeowner came out screaming it's gonna blow.. It was actually kind of humerous... now that I think of it....But back to the point... It does increase productivity over just backpacks incredibly.. not a waste of money,, very good investment.... Good luck

[lawnboy82]

if you are gonna get up into the bigger hp >9 hp. they now make em with the 13hp hondas. the 11hp briggs i have heard some not good things about. from a dealer- friends - etc.

[smburgess]

Have a couple 8's, they are great!!!

[John DiMartino]

I have the old style 5hp,a new 8HO,and the 13hp HO.Id say get the 8 as the minumum.The 9hp isnt worth the money,go right to the 13hp from the8.The 9 is 300-400 more than the 8 and blows the same,the honda is nice,but i dont use it that much,the briggs has been fine,first pull every time starts.The 13hp is awesome,it rocks big time,and only costs 150 more than the 9HP,a bargain IMO.The 13 literally will blow off a 40 ft wide parking lot clean in one pass,even if there is lots of junk on it.The 8 isnt far behind,the 5hp is light,but it would take 3 of them to blow like an 8HO.

[leaflawnandlimb]

The 8 briggs is fine but be sure and change oil every 25 hrs of use and check level often.

[Indiana]

Picked up a 8 HP this morning. Thinking of going out just to use it later. I can't wait for fall now, maybe it will be easier with this new blower.]


Got it from the guy I saw Wednesday. $600 for 8 I/C Briggs HO blower. DEAL.

I'll post after I use it. Thanks again for all the replies.

LONG LIVE LAWNSITE.COM

[Craig Turf Management]

I've got an 8hp Briggs, and it performs great. The only thing that I would do differently, is buy the swivel front wheel. The fixed front caster makes maneuvering the machine a little cumbersome.
Do any of you Siters hav the swivel front wheel, and would you recommend it?

Take care, and drink plenty of water. Bill Craig:cool:

[HOMER]

I want one for parking lots, do they really work that good or would a stronger back pack be better?

[John DiMartino]

Indiana,you got a great deal,I paid 735 last year. I do have the swivel front wheel on the 13hp,I mounted it to an old greensmower,thats why i got the swivel.I dont like it much for greens,because when you change direction,the castor tears the bentgrass when it turns around,so you have to go all the way off the green in to the surround to change direction.The 13hp is so strong,you have to fight the blower with the castor to keep it going straight,the force of the air,makes it want to turn hard left constantly.I kepe the castor locked about 90% of the time.

[CSRA Landscaping]

Homer, they really work that good.

[Runner]

Homer,

A backpack, or for that matter, TWO backpacks, can't even TOUCH what one of these blowers can will do. How many parking lots are you planning to take on,and how big? What are you cutting with? If you hahe a rider that is relatively decent speed in both forwar and backward,, perhaps a JRCO blower buggy is a good investment to look into. I have one, and absolutely LOVE it! It's all the difference between work and pleasure.;)

[John DiMartino]

Homer,to properly blow off my big commercial account,it took 45-50 minutes,every week with a commercial 54ccc Solo backpapck blower.I can do the same job,and do it better with my 8hp little wonder in 7-9 minutes.one of 2 passes around the perimeter,once up,and down the main entrance, and your done.its like going from a 21" mower to your 72" Dixie

[John DiMartino]

Homer,to properly blow off my big commercial account,it took 45-50 minutes,every week with a commercial 54ccc Solo backpapck blower.I can do the same job,and do it better with my 8hp little wonder in 7-9 minutes.one of 2 passes around the perimeter,once up,and down the main entrance, and your done.its like going from a 21" mower to your 72" Dixie

[HOMER]

I have 21 commercial accounts. They all have parking lots! Some I need to blow off first before I start cutting so I can get the pine straw, pine cones, sticks etc. up in the grass. Others I need to blow trash and cig butts to one side so I can pick them up. I don't want to invest in a parking lot sweeper but sure wish I had one some days. I guess if I were to add up the miles I walk a year blowing off these parking lots I would have already had one!


Hey, looky thar............I'm a moo moo lennium member now. 2002 posts!:blob3:

[Indiana]

I have already made plans to get the swivel wheel for the front.

I also was looking at the blower yesterday and figured I could make a mount to get attached to the front of my walker deck.

I will try to do that after church today. I like to putter around on Sunday afternoons. That blower buggy is pretty expensive, is it worth it? It's like $450.00. WOW. Seems like alot for just a cart to put the blower on.

Also, does anybody have the hose kit for the blower. I was thinking of using the hose kit and blower to shuttle leaves from in back of cabins I cannot get behind. Just a thought.

I have a leaf loader also that I will blow the leaves to. So what ever I cannot mulch with the walkers and walk behinds, I will blow to areas to be piocked up by the leaf loader. Sound like a plan, something I have not had for leaf season before. Usually, I just start blowing leaves without any plan. AND IT TAKES FOREVER.

[Indiana]

Tried my new blower yesterday and I love it. Just walked behind it and blew off an account that usually takes forever.

WOW, what a blower.

Thanks for all the great replies, I am very happy with my decision on the 8 hp.

Thanks again.

[John DiMartino]

That 8hp rocks,doesnt it?It wont take long to pay for itself IMO.after i bought mine,and used it once,I was mad at myself for not getting it sooner.

[Barkleymut]

Homer, just go and get the 8HP. You will save so many hours in the fall and even summer during pine straw season. It is incredible on pavement and very good on grass.

[Indiana]

Yeah, I kinda got mad at myself for not getting it last year.

Last Fall, I spent three weeks removing leaves from a large commercial account. I can't wait for this Fall. I will save big time there on leaves. Then there's a bonus.

I get to use it the rest of year on all my other accounts & save more time.