Thinking about buying a Tanaka ......

[belbo]

THB-260PF. How does it compare from a performance standpoint against the stihl sh-85 and echo es-230? I will need the vacuum/shredder attachment as well.

I have never owned a Tanaka and considering one. Reasons why I am reluctant to buy it:

No local dealers. Well I called 3. One never returned phone call with price, another had almost no idea what I was talking about. Still waiting on call back from 3rd. I can only assume dealer support is non-existent.

Price. More expensive than the other 2 brands. Not a big deal if worth it.

Name recognition. Nobody around here has one or heard of them so I have no idea what their track record is, if they are as effective and reliable as the other 2 brands.

So why should I buy one of these over the stihl or echo? What advantages are there?

I do not own a business, just a homeowner that spends a butt load of time in his yard and with tools. I love my tools, work with them everyday and get a lot of enjoyment out of working with well made machinery. I take time in picking out tools to buy and want to make the right choice. I do like to support smaller companies and work with things that are different from mainstream so I am considering one of these, depending on how they stack up to other comparible machines.

Thanks.

[Tanaka]

How does it compare from a performance standpoint against the stihl sh-85 and echo es-230? I will need the vacuum/shredder attachment as well
As a blower, the Tanaka THB-260PF will outperform the Echo (393 CFM vs. 321 CFM and as a vac it will reduce more debris (14 to 1 vs 12 to 1). Against the Stihl, it has a longer run time, larger bag capacity, is quieter and has a longer consumer warranty (3 years vs. 2). The THB-260PF features maximum strength outer plastic housings which are manufactured with PA6 GF30 (Polyamide 6, Glass Fiber 30%). This material features outstanding strength and rigidity and is more than twice as strong as similar products using ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic housings.

I have never owned a Tanaka and considering one. Reasons why I am reluctant to buy it:
No local dealers. Well I called 3. One never returned phone call with price, another had almost no idea what I was talking about. Still waiting on call back from 3rd. I can only assume dealer support is non-existent.
In addition to our dealer network, you can purchase Tanaka products from Grainger, Amazon.com, and other specialty retailers. Tanaka has been sold thru Grainger for over 15 years.

Price. More expensive than the other 2 brands. Not a big deal if worth it.
The THB-260PF w/ vac kit has a M.A.P. of $309.98. The ECHO ES-230 is $329.99.

Name recognition. Nobody around here has one or heard of them so I have no idea what their track record is, if they are as effective and reliable as the other 2 brands.
Tanaka has been sold in the U.S. since the late 70's and has a proven track record for producing high quality two-stroke powered outdoor power equipment. Tanaka was acquired by Hitachi Power Tools in April of 2007.

Thanks for considering Tanaka - you won't be disappointed. Just ask any of the pros on ls.com.

-MW

[belbo]

How does it compare from a performance standpoint against the stihl sh-85 and echo es-230? I will need the vacuum/shredder attachment as well
As a blower, the Tanaka THB-260PF will outperform the Echo (393 CFM vs. 321 CFM and as a vac it will reduce more debris (14 to 1 vs 12 to 1). Against the Stihl, it has a longer run time, larger bag capacity, is quieter and has a longer consumer warranty (3 years vs. 2). The THB-260PF features maximum strength outer plastic housings which are manufactured with PA6 GF30 (Polyamide 6, Glass Fiber 30%). This material features outstanding strength and rigidity and is more than twice as strong as similar products using ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic housings.

I have never owned a Tanaka and considering one. Reasons why I am reluctant to buy it:
No local dealers. Well I called 3. One never returned phone call with price, another had almost no idea what I was talking about. Still waiting on call back from 3rd. I can only assume dealer support is non-existent.
In addition to our dealer network, you can purchase Tanaka products from Grainger, Amazon.com, and other specialty retailers. Tanaka has been sold thru Grainger for over 15 years.

Price. More expensive than the other 2 brands. Not a big deal if worth it.
The THB-260PF w/ vac kit has a M.A.P. of $309.98. The ECHO ES-230 is $329.99.

Name recognition. Nobody around here has one or heard of them so I have no idea what their track record is, if they are as effective and reliable as the other 2 brands.
Tanaka has been sold in the U.S. since the late 70's and has a proven track record for producing high quality two-stroke powered outdoor power equipment. Tanaka was acquired by Hitachi Power Tools in April of 2007.

Thanks for considering Tanaka - you won't be disappointed. Just ask any of the pros on ls.com.

-MW

Thank you for the answers and reply. I'm not really considering the echo since my last one bit the dust but my local dealer has the es-230 for $289.00. the sh-85 sells for $280 locally. Not that big of a difference.

Does the tanaka also sell a gutter attachment? As a home owner, it looks like a cool little thing to buy with the blower. The echo attachment is ridiculously priced high, while the stihl version is half of it. Just wondering if tanaka sells a version of it?

Looks like I will have to go the amazon route. i wanted to go in a store and purchase it and have better access to parts but doesn't appear to be possible. I do want to try something different though so I will probably order one. I can't find a gutter blower attachment but would like that so if ne is available, please let me know.

Again, thanks for the response.

[LawnTamer]

I've never talked to anyone on here who regretted buying a Tanaka. They are a top tier company.

[belbo]

Bought the stihl today. My mind was made up on the Tanakabut every place i called to order it from didn't have the shredder/vacuum attachment. Was backordered everywhere and I need it. So in teh end, I really didn't have a choice.

The products are obviously first class but I have to say that dealer support was well below poor in my area, not to mention backordered parts. Maybe it's just because it's a fairly new piece of equipment. Appears to be a fine company but they will have to spend some resources developing their dealers and inventory before they can grow too much in my opinion.

Good luck, wish I could have found what i wanted.

[LandscaperBill]

I am also interested in purchasing a Tanaka unit. What area are you from, and did you try using the Tanka dealer located to find a dealer in your area?
Thanks.
Bill

[Tanaka]

Hi,
For Eastern PA, contact our wholesale distributor if you need additional help finding a Tanaka dealer:

CANNS-BILCO DISTRIBUTORS
125 East Penn Avenue, Alburtis, PA 18011 | Phone: (800) 811-0285 ext. 221 | Fax: (800) 228-8181
Contact: Roger Cann | E-mail: rdcann@canns-bilco.com
Territory: PA, NJ, NY (Except for Long Island)

-MW

[pugs]

I am also interested in purchasing a Tanaka unit. What area are you from, and did you try using the Tanka dealer located to find a dealer in your area?
Thanks.
Bill

I dont think the tanaka along with many other websites like that are updated as frequently as they should be. Your best bet is usually to make a phone call to the manufacturer to find the closest dealer.

Bragging about the better warranty 3 vs 2 against the Stihl is kinda a silly point if there are no dealers in the area to do the warranty work. I doubt Amazon or Grainger do much warranty work...

[takedeadaim]

I'll tell you what, I have owned a number of Tanaka products, (2 Trimmers; a blower and I just ordered a chainsaw) and I wish all my equiptment was a reliable as my Tanaka products are. I have no idea what they do to make their engines start as easy as they do and I mean they start easy EVERY TIME. I use the Tanaka oil and the trimmers and blower sit all winter and fire right up when the season comes around. I do tend to use mid grade gas but I don't think you have to. We do have a local dealer but his parts inventory is minimal but ordering is fast and reasonable priced.

I would not hesitate to recomend you buy from them as you can always order parts on line if you need them but most things dont break if you just do some maintence. I mean I have a Stihl dealer within walking distance from me and I do have two of their bigger saws but I was looking for a top handled trimmer and I'll tell you when your hanging in a harness you dont want to be yanking on a rope a dozen times to get the sucker started. I thought how easy those trimmers start and went with the Tanaka 3401, should be here in a day or two.

I really am interested in how you guys get them to start so easy day after day, even when they sit? Is that oil full synthetic?

Keep up the good work and soon the whole truck will be orange, well not the truck but all the crap in it.

Regards;

[lilweeds]

Bought the stihl today. My mind was made up on the Tanakabut every place i called to order it from didn't have the shredder/vacuum attachment. Was backordered everywhere and I need it. So in teh end, I really didn't have a choice.

The products are obviously first class but I have to say that dealer support was well below poor in my area, not to mention backordered parts. Maybe it's just because it's a fairly new piece of equipment. Appears to be a fine company but they will have to spend some resources developing their dealers and inventory before they can grow too much in my opinion.

Good luck, wish I could have found what i wanted.

Good luck with the stihl. I have one and it's garbage!

[treetopguy2028]

In 1992 a search for a boat trolling motor revealed Tanaka had built motors for Sears Roebuck so I bought a Tanaka and loved it. Yes, it started easily every time.
Two months ago I used the wrong gas in my 2007 Stihl MS200T and the dealer estimated $350 to replace the engine jug or $640 for a new MS200T. Instead I bought a Tanaka ESC-3301 from DR Power Equipment. It already has about 100 hours op. time in just six weeks and its is a good machine. Two friends bought the beefier TSC-3401 and they are pleased. We compared the two models and found for $20 to $30 more, the TSC has better design and features such as: primer bulb, topside choke control, rocker switch, sturdier-looking case and two bar mounting studs. Over 17 years of arborist work I have had four Echo top handle saws, the Stihl and now Tanaka. I doubt that I'll ever buy another Stihl top handle saw, as there are good machines available at about half the price. FWIW Shindaiwa has built the 357 top handle saw for years but I have never owned one.