wb leaf blower

[mr. k]

Has anyone used a wb blower. If so are they worth the $$. I am going to do mostly leaves with it. Any inputr would be great. Thanks.

Rich

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by mr. k
Has anyone used a wb blower. If so are they worth the $$. I am going to do mostly leaves with it. Any inputr would be great. Thanks.Rich

Rich,
WB blowers are around 2.2K to 2.5K and are not real manueverable, which is why most guys don't buy them. I bought a Selbro blower that fits on my WB. You take off the deck and bolt on the blower. It's around 1.3K and gives you the manueverable of the WB you already have, especially if it's a hydro. Also, as in my case, I was able change pulleys and increase the speed of the blower to match the power of my 25hp Kaw on my WB. You wanna talk about power, whew!!! I'm super happy with the Selbro, it was only $1,200 on sale, and is a joy to use, especially up and down hills.
Pete

[GreenMachine102]

Whats WB?

[Runner]

WB = Walk Behind.
Pete, A walk behind blower is between 2.2 and 2.5 k? Ouch! I'm not sure where that is, but around here, you can buy the best, - a Little Wonder, for around 800 bucks. That's the 8 hp. To answer the first question, yes, they are an excellent investment, depending on that you're going to do with them For Fall cleanup, they are fantastic, not just for moving leaves, but tyhey can c;ear suff right out from under certain trees (like Spruces) that would otherwise be inaccessible. For lot sweeps and such, they are an asset, as well. I do have to say, though, that depending on what you're using to mow with, it may not be that advantagious to purchase one of these. What I mean, is, for instance, if you have a mower like a lazer, you can move leaves about as fast with that as with a wb blower. Using forward-reverse directions, the deck just moves them more thoroughly and doesn't really leave anything that is so easily done with the blower. This is only the heavier stuff though, after they get built up quite a bit. For the lighter stuff however, a blower just moves them so much farther per stroke, that it makes a big difference. Now me, personally, I use both. I have a "blower buggy" mad by JRCO, and this think is a WORKSAVER! I have all that airpower at fingertip control. Once I get the little stuff built up a bit, I then use the mower deck to move them. This also grinds them up, reducing the bulk to atleast 1/10 of what it would normally be. Then, we are just hauling out about the equivalency of dust. Great stuff!;)

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Runner
WB = Walk Behind.
Pete, A walk behind blower is between 2.2 and 2.5 k? Ouch! I'm not sure where that is, but around here, you can buy the best, - a Little Wonder, for around 800 bucks.

Sorry... being out in left field and way ahead of myself, I assumed (yeah, me an @$$hole) that you meant a "self propelled" WB blower. The reason for that is again, I just assumed (yes, fill in the blank) you already knew how great the "normal" push style blowers were and wanted to step up to what the "bigboys" are using and were unsure if it was worth it. Again, sorry, I assumed a bit too much.....
Pete

[mtdman]

I've never heard of a self propelled leaf blower. Most of what I've seen around my area is LW blowers, or knockoffs of that type, push blowers. I don't have one, but have been thinking about one for this year. From what I've seen, they work pretty damned good and are more than worth the investment. They go for about $800 around here, too.

[mr. k]

Thanks guys for all of your time and inputs. I guess I should have been a little more specific in my original post. It sounds as if a Little Wonder would be money well spent and that way I won't go overboard with $$ equipment right off the bat. Well off to shop around. Thanks again guys.

Rich

[Bruce]

I have a 5 hp Little Wonder It works great for moving piles of leaves. But would rather use back pack blowers for doing yards if i ever buy another one I would get the biggest engine they have though. Bruce

[mr. k]

Thanks Bruce for the input. I'll probably go with the 9 or 10 hp model when i go to purchase one.

[Cooper Landscaping]

Mr. K
Im gunna have to agree with Bruce here. In my first year i bought a 5hp Little Wonder with the idea "who would ever need more than that" haha i soon learned. Definitely go with the 9 or 10 hp. You wont regret that purchase...that is unless you get the 5hp lol

-Coop

[mr. k]

Thanks guys. I was looking at little wonders web site and is the swivel kit a must for the front wheel? Thanks

[Cooper Landscaping]

Yes the swivel wheel is for the front. When i saw it I didnt see much of a use for it so I didnt bother to try it- if anyone else did i would be interested to hear your opinion!

-Coop

[Runner]

The swivel wheel creates more havoc than help, actually. It's not bad on pavement, but in grass, it makes a little more work to keep straight. On slight hills and slopes is where it REALLY creates more work in holding it in a straight line. Turning is not really that big of an issue with these blowers with the solid mount front wheel, because the unit is so well balanced, that all it takes is the slightest pressure downward on the handlebar, that the machine will pivot right around. I have a friend who bought one, didn't like it, had me try it out to see what he meant, and eventually took it back off. I think he still has it setting around.

[mr. k]

Well it looks like I'll stick with the stardard front wheel. Thanks for the input. From what it sounds like you guys just saved me some $$ and a headache from a swivel wheel while doing hills. Thanks...

[Tvov]

One note about the Little Wonder blowers... They are HEAVY !!!! I bought a 8hp high output model a few years ago, and it blows like heck, much more powerful than the "standard" or "old" style blowers. BUT... it is designed so that it can be converted to a portable vacuum, so it is made out of heavy gauge steel. So far, I have not met anyone who has used it as a vacuum. We use it only on the largest open lawns, and use backpack blowers everywhere else. When my guys have a choice, they always go for a backpack blower instead of pushing the blower.

I have seen a couple self-propelled blowers around, they are usually in the 16hp range. Seems a heck of a lot of money for a leaf blower.

I don't know if Little Wonder has lightened their blowers recently, but they should. Fradan seems to work good, and I swear it weighs half as much. Giant Vac also makes good blowers (they have a similar "high output" design), but I believe they are heavy as well.

If I had to go with only one type of blower, it would be a powerful backpack blower. My Echo 603 seems to be as powerful as a 5hp rolling blower, but that is subjective, and it is not their most powerful model.

[mtdman]

Originally posted by Tvov
BUT... it is designed so that it can be converted to a portable vacuum, so it is made out of heavy gauge steel. So far, I have not met anyone who has used it as a vacuum.

Actually, LW stopped doing the vacuum thing. I tried to find a kit last year to do the vacuum thing, and even wrote the company. They discontinued the vacuum hose attachment because of damage to the fan housing, or something similar. I was bummed out because I really wanted a portable leaf thrower. In the end I didn't buy a LW last year, but like I said, I am considering one this year.

For doing flower beds and around yard obstacles, I think backpack blowers are the best. I've done leaves for 7 years with only backpack blowers, and they work just fine. But for reallly big yards, I think you gotta have a LW. For most of the residentials I do, I don't think it's necessary, but will certainly speed things up.

[tiedeman]

I bought my 10 hp Billy Goat WB for only $920.00 It is still to this day one of the best investments I ever made.

[LakeSide Lawn and Landscape]

Personaly I like the swivel wheel, but I mainly use mine for blowing off big parking lots and most of our lawns are fairly nice and flat.I wouldnt have one without the swivel front wheel.J.M.H.O.:)

[Navig8r]

Originally posted by Tvov
....Fradan seems to work good, and I swear it weighs half as much....

I have run a 14 HP v-twin Fradan and I own a 9 HP Little Wonder..... I'll take the LW any day..... it moves only slightly less air than the 14 HP Fradan, is lighter, balanced better, and rolls better due to a real, pneumatic front tire, not a boat trailer roller like Fradan uses.

I have also run Fradan BP blowers, and trimmers and I've found them to be heavy...... Good machines for the money, but not as good as some of their competition, IMO.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Navig8r
I have run a 14 HP v-twin Fradan and I own a 9 HP Little Wonder..... I'll take the LW any day..... it moves only slightly less air than the 14 HP Fradan, is lighter, balanced better, and rolls better due to a real, pneumatic front tire, not a boat trailer roller like Fradan uses..

the Fradan does move a larger chunk of air, but just slower. Because of it's weight I like to leave the Fradan in the middle of a pile, let it cut a swath through the middle, and feed the air stream with the backpack. OH, and what you "will like", is turning up that Vanguard twin to 3,850/3,900 rpm....Then you see some leave blowing. I've had my turned up for the last 3 years and it's running fine and the oil stays clean. Briggs confided it should run at 4,000 with no problems..........
Pete

[SpudsM15]

Mr.k do you have large enough properties to use a wb blower on?
Last season i was debating on buying a wb blower, but i deceided that it would make more of a mess in the smaller properties i have, so i went with the echo pb-650 (I used to havea poulan backpack from lowes)
I think i made the right choice since the blower took on wet leaves and big piles with no problem, and i can get into those tight spaces.
But i definatley want a wb blower just because of the extreme blowing power(don't think the g/f would like me spending the money on a new toy rather than her):blob3:

[STAN1366]

I bought a LW 9hp Honda blower about 3 yrs ago. It's great and I got the swivel front wheel kit last year. I like being able to lock or unlock the front wheel. I also bought a Fradan (9hp Honda)which "feels" like it's lighter than the LW and blows a like amount, but there's no ability to direct the air flow straight ahead like the LW. When it comes to fall cleanups solo, I take the LW. Right now, week to week, I take the Fradan. For BP's, I've got a 630(?) Redmax which is just super and an Echo 600(bought used as a backup). My advice is get either push blower that looks good to you, but get the Honda engine. Period! For back packs, also get the biggest you can. If you go the cheapest way to save money you're only going to have to stepup sooner or later and then you'll realize how much time you wasted with the smaller output units.