stihl and echo engine comparison

[buford24d]

I want to buy either a stihl bg55 or an echo pb-251 blower. The stihl has 2 rings, ball bearing mains and a 2-3 year warranty on the ign. module. The echo only has 1 ring, unlike it's 2 ring older brothers and a lifetime on the ign. module.
I've read that the modules blow easy in dry climates due to static in the blower. They ain't cheap. Neither is a 1 ring short block either I guess. I like the added cruise control on the echo. Everyone says the stihl bg85 is way more powerful. Stihl says the only difference is the muffler between the two. Maybe the bg55 has a cat muffler. Anyway., I would like to make the right choice for once and get one that will last me well into my 90's. I'm 33. But seriously. Any thoughts? Thanks

[topsites]

Well is it the 55 or the 85?

Because I use the 55 but I also spent the extra 10 or 15 and got the flat-tip 65 nozzle, they're the same cc's and I suspect this is the only difference. The 55 does have cruise control thou mine broke (first one on all my stihls thou) and I find the power adequate for late spring - early fall grass cutting season.

The 85 might do something but I think it's too heavy, I like the 55 it doesn't wear me out at all.

Once things get heavy ain't no handheld gonna do it anyhow, 300 cfm's at 170 or so mph, only other use for it is to put it in your left hand when using the backpack wow what a combo :laugh:

[Albery's Lawn & Tractor]

The echo is the same engine in the 251 trimmer. I have two of them and they have been the best investment for me. Plenty of power, easy on the fuel, still has the adjustable carb unlike the higher dollar units. I don't think the single ring will be a problem otherwise I don't think echo would make it. In my area we have stihl and echo but the only thing the dealers push for stihl is there saws. I got to use the 251 in the dealer parking lot and I have never used a hand held blower that was that strong.

[Stillwater]

Stihl says the only difference between the BG 55 and The BG 85 is the muffler?
Well just like Pacino said in the movie Scent of a woman
"this is such a crock of ****!!!!"
go to sthil.com for comparison the stihl is in a class by its self when comparing to the echo. they both do the same thing though. if you tend to take care of your tools and keep them as long as possible buy the sthil if you use and abuse and replace get the echo

[ed2hess]

The echo is the same engine in the 251 trimmer. I have two of them and they have been the best investment for me. Plenty of power, easy on the fuel, still has the adjustable carb unlike the higher dollar units. I don't think the single ring will be a problem otherwise I don't think echo would make it. In my area we have stihl and echo but the only thing the dealers push for stihl is there saws. I got to use the 251 in the dealer parking lot and I have never used a hand held blower that was that strong.

I am an Echo guy all the way but the one ring design bothers me a little. I understand the idea is to reduce friction and heat but the material is new as well as the coating on the inside of the cyclinder. I am going to give them a year or two of field testing before I jump in.....in this case I would go with the Stihl.

[Godfather]

You can tell if it is single or double ring by looking at whether the item is "power boost vortex" (single) or "power boost tornado"(double)

Echo uses a single ring on the GT-200, SRM-210, SRM-251 HC-150, HC-160,HC-180,HC-200, SCH 210, SCH 212, Pb-200,Pb-251, ES 210, PE 200, PPF-210, CS-330, CS-360,Cs-370.

Take this any way you want. At first i said hey all of the smaller displacement engines have this, and these engines tend to be "homeowner"... but then again, you see the single ring on echos top of the line top handle trim saws, so i have no idea...

Just my 2cents

[buford24d]

I totally agree with you ed. All of the other echo blowers with the exception of the PB210 have 2 rings. As far as the plating on the cylinder goes, thats the prime reason why most of the poulan pro blowers are throwaways. The plating supposedly flakes off and seizes up the engine. Who knows what kind of a job echo is doing on these new home depot available blowers. Plating is a tricky business. And just because they say they're made by the Japanese company Kioritz doesn't mean that they make it. I smell Taiwan. I was looking at the box at home depot tonight and noticed something interesting. The PB200 box says Made with USA and Japanese parts. The engine actually said Made in Japan. The carb however said CHINA. So much for the what the box states. The PB251 box says Made with USA and other countries parts. Not Japan but other countries. That's why I smell Taiwan. I don't know if I trust their new Vortex Bull Plating. The other backpack Echo blowers boxes said Made in Japan. As far as the Stihl BG55 and the BG85 go, The companies technical rep , Mark O'Briant says that the muffler on the BG85 allows it to obtain 1.1HP instesd of the .9 HP of the BG55. Pachino is a drunken pile of Italian bull in my own opinion and a sucky actor as well, so I don't consider a non mechanical windbag like him a worthy adversary of this discussion. I do hope that eshkis does not also fit into this catagory considering this is a mechanical discussion, not an actors group discussion. If you think Stihl is lying then you can call 1-800-467-8445 and ask for Mark O'Briant. You may be right and he may in fact be the one spending his time on Little Orphan Annie's website. He hasn't replied to my e-mail inquiring whether one is a catalytic converter muffler or not. He did say that the blower housing /venturi/impeller design are the same on both models.That is why the speed rating of the round tube on both models are almost the same. The extra horsepower on the 85 makes up the difference. My local guy scratching the fleas on himself so called Stihl dealer offered me as much information as a challenged redneck was capable of. "Huh" is what he said when I asked him the difference between the two. So if the BG55 muffler can be modified to equal it to the BG85, then I'd say that would be a keeper, Even though it don't have all the bells and whistles the PB251 has. Ain't quite as pretty either without that fancy red plastic paint job.

[Stillwater]

Relax Buford24D

Their really is no reason to be upset and aggressive. So please stop over compensating for something you lack. Which apparently is Sthil products and specifications knowledge. The facts are the facts and those facts are that their are several differences between the 2 sthil blowers far and beyond the muffler. I am totally confident that when every intrested person goes to this website and reads for themselves the differences they will politely disregard your postings on this subject and consider you politely but affectionately misinformed. So please their really is no reason to be angry.

so all concerned can go hear for the facts http://www.stihl.us/blowers/comparison.html

[lawnboy dan]

since when is scarface endorcing blowers? well mabey redmax could use him to plug the 8001 for fall cleanups-"say hellow to my little friend!"

[Stillwater]

since when is scarface endorcing blowers? well mabey redmax could use him to plug the 8001 for fall cleanups-"say hellow to my little friend!"

He doesn't but bufard or what ever his screen name is thinks so from not comprehending my first post. Him being a home owner guy and not a professional LCO fails to realize that their are a crap load of LCO's on lawn site that know more about Sthil than some tech rep that answerers the phone at sthil. Just like some guys hear know more about exmark than some exmark dealers do. A perfect example is a hard comparison document published by sthil and contradicted by some teen tech rep that just happened to answer the phone at sthil. This is a clear indication of how GREEN the tech in training is. If bufard just wants to just choke the people who replies to his question and chooses to hold the Sthil tech guy up high and worship him why is he asking for help in the firstplace. Baiting LCO's into a blower discussion just so he can spue erroneous information to stroke his own ego maybe? what other explanation could their be? He needs to go to the Home owner section of this web site and get off the pro pages I was only trying to help the guy and he spits in my face

[Stillwater]

Well what ever it is that I did to offend you, I apologize

[Juan_Deere]

Well is it the 55 or the 85?

Because I use the 55 but I also spent the extra 10 or 15 and got the flat-tip 65 nozzle, they're the same cc's and I suspect this is the only difference. The 55 does have cruise control thou mine broke (first one on all my stihls thou) and I find the power adequate for late spring - early fall grass cutting season.

The 85 might do something but I think it's too heavy, I like the 55 it doesn't wear me out at all.

Once things get heavy ain't no handheld gonna do it anyhow, 300 cfm's at 170 or so mph, only other use for it is to put it in your left hand when using the backpack wow what a combo :laugh:


When I bought my 55 a couple of years ago, it came with both nozzles. Did my dealer screw up and give me both, or did the flat one being optional change recently?

[topsites]

Hey Buford, we're Lco's, not mechanics, we do what we can but we're still not auto shop owners. Some to most of us run synthetic oil and premium fuel and high performance parts to make sure it doesn't crap out, which means we need the right equipment first so that we CAN abuse it and I think we prefer those machines where all we do is dump fuel in the tank...
And that's all most of us do, it's all we can do, spark plug and air filter and fuel is what we are limited to because it's not our problem.
Or should we be asking what's a homeowner doing in the business owner section?

Just messin' with ya

When I bought my 55 a couple of years ago, it came with both nozzles. Did my dealer screw up and give me both, or did the flat one being optional change recently?

Probably just different dealers, 10 bucks either way and I specifically asked for it, nice they threw it in for you thou.

[All_Toro_4ME]

Both are good brands. Dont get hung up on the specs of this one has that, but that one has this. It can drive you crazy. I've used both brands and still do, and have never had a problem.

[nmurph]

the 85 has a cat muffler, also. it also has cruise control, not a speed lock like the 55 and is only 4 ounces heavier than the 55. i tested both side-by-side. the 85 is more powerful. it was a no-brainer for me (some say that came naturally) and easily worth the $$. the output of the echos specs out closer to the 55 than the 85.
buford, you might try a little less angry approach to your replies. i realize that eskis jumped a little hard. you are right that the 55 and 85 have the same displacement. it is reasonable to assume that the differences are in the jetting and the muffler. you have to let some of these things go. a short, pointed retort usually gets the point across. if it doesn't, ignore it and move on.
there are lots of very knowledgeable folks on here and some that think they know everything. you may belong in the first category, but you first few post would lead most to believe that you belong to the latter. you join on thursday and immediately begin to pick fights. not the best move to win friends and influence people. not that you care to do either, i'm sure.

[Clem Clifford]

Well nmurph, I can understand why buford24d might get a little testy with the cold welcome he received from estrogen and the wise remarks you just made as well, but what singes the fur on my buttox is how you refer to us as homeowners. If it wasn't for homeowners giving you business, and they also keep the businesses you do open as well with their patronage, some of you would problably have to take up residence in the local Wamart parking lot where the only roof over your head is the pickup truck your sleeping in. I decided to take the liberty of e-mailing stihl and they told me the only difference between the BG55 and the BG85 engines are the mufflers. He said the 55 muffler is more restrictive than the 85. He said the block, carb,piston and crankshaft are the same parts. He said the impeller is also the same. The blower housing is different because of the cruise control and handle. Whether this fellow just came out of wearing diapers or not is irrelevant. I'm sure he probably referenced his material from the engineers that design the machines. I think they probably know a lot more about the technical aspects than us consumers do. Now I know a lot of you are probably a bit upset that you spent all of that extra money on the BG85 when all you had to do was gut out a restricted muffler, and I know you also probably feel cheated that your favorite manufacturer fooled you into spending all that extra money when you didn't have to, hell a hundred bucks buys a lot of cold Bud, But to jump all over a good old boy like buford24d is just shameless, and I think you all should give him a big old sorry buford. Now I would't blame hinm if he never came back, but that's just me. I'm sure buford24d is a better man than that, hell, probably better than all of us. Just my thoughts.

[nmurph]

clem,
apparently you got that Bic to close to your brain when you were burning the hairs on your behind. no where in my post did i refer to you or Big B as such. if you actually took the time to read my post you would see that i defended B from eskis and agreed that the 55 and 85 are essentially the same machine, not withstanding their performance, which is like saying Rosanne and Heidi Klum.
please, re-read the entire post, paying special attention to the last paragraph.

[Clem Clifford]

Well murph, I read it as I saw it. It looked as though you were calling buford24d a know it all. Some may not take that to kindly. Unless of course I misinterpreted you wrong. I was using som carb cleaner with the garage closed up earlier that night. At least I think it was that night. Say, what happened to that last post that Buford24d posted. That was funny. Are these moderators men or woman? Any way murph, sorry if I misread you.

[Stillwater]

Well murph, I read it as I saw it. It looked as though you were calling buford24d a know it all. Some may not take that to kindly. Unless of course I misinterpreted you wrong. I was using som carb cleaner with the garage closed up earlier that night. At least I think it was that night. Say, what happened to that last post that Buford24d posted. That was funny. Are these moderators men or woman? Any way murph, sorry if I misread you.


Clem for the record I did apologize to Mr. B, so don't think I am a total prick.

[Clem Clifford]

Mr. escobar, I never insinuated that you were for one second, And I commend you for your apology. I apoligize for not mentioning that in my posting. Like I said, it's cold here and I may have used a bit too much carb cleaner that night, not to mention a couple of beer chasers afterwards. I say we let by gone's be by gones and get back to why we're all here in the first place. Talking and sharing our thoughts about one of our most prized possessions, Good old American lawn maintenance equipment.

[Stillwater]

Mr. escobar, I never insinuated that you were for one second, And I commend you for your apology. I apoligize for not mentioning that in my posting. Like I said, it's cold here and I may have used a bit too much carb cleaner that night, not to mention a couple of beer chasers afterwards. I say we let by gone's be by gones and get back to why we're all here in the first place. Talking and sharing our thoughts about one of our most prized possessions, Good old American lawn maintenance equipment.


Hi clem, (Mr.escobar) thats funny stuff, anyway I know you did not in anyway insinuate that, I re-read one of my posts and thought wow "I sound like a prick." You did not come down on me at all so no apologies are necessary but thanks anyways.

off topic question for a expert handyman
I am reglazeing my shop windows and the dap 33 I was using ran out so I hit the homedepot and they did not have dap 33 but they had dap55 I never seen dap 55 before I bought it and it feels, smells, handles and looks like the 33 what is the difference between the 2 and is it critical to use a oil based primer or can I use latex even though it says oil based should be used?

[nmurph]

i will now take my own advise and let by-gones be by-gones. :walking:

to B and Clem, welcome to LS, where the men are men and the tall and beautiful. we are family. we squabble, fuss and fight and then kiss (figuratively, anyway) and make up.

[Clem Clifford]

Thanks nmurph for that warm welcome. I really appreciate it. I have to be honest Mr. Estrada, I have never heard of Dap 55 before. I know there is a Dap53 painters putty but like I say, I never encountered 55 before. What country did you say you were from? I'm glad I have a large can of Dap 33 if they stopped making it. Must be an EPA issue. I've always been a Dap 33 man and will continue to be at least until my supply runs out. Any how, it says on the can to use an oil based paint for best results, but I have always had good luck with Kilz-2 primer. It is a low VOC water based paint. indoor/outdoor. You should let the glazing skin over a bit before painting it. This could take a while depending on your climate. Sometimes I just go ahead and paint right over it carefully with the Kilz-2 and have had pretty good results. I like the kilz-2 because it sticks to just about anything, and it can be topcoated with latex or oil paint. I think the latex paint is more flexible than an oil based paint, and will be less likely to crack when glaze shrinkage occurs. Hope this helps you out.

[Stillwater]

thanks clem it is dap 53 my typo they still make dap 33 they just ran out