RedMax EBZ8500 review

[A+Grounds]

As some of you know one of my EBZ8001s was starting to show its age. After a few hours on lawnsite and some loss of sleep I decided to pick up a new EBZ8500. Couldn’t find much on this blower, which is very surprising especially for how powerful it is. When I went to pick up one at weingartz I was still a little unsure about this new blower because I have heard almost nothing about it. I talked to my salesman about the echo 770 and he said, “don’t even go there, no where near the power or reliability of that redmax.” Picked it up for $578.



Upgrades to the 8500 from 8001/8050
• Redesigned air filter housing has 2 intakes that go down into the blower intake area, no exact idea where they end up but it did help tremendously to keep out particulates.
• New fuel tank is easier to work with. Fill point is the highest point so there are no air pockets, this lets you put more gas in
• Lighter
• Blower tube is more robust at the flexible joint, but the tubes are not as heavy duty.
• Handle on the tube (hip mount throttle) is more comfortable and is made of a heavy plastic that does not flex
• Improved handle mount allows the handle to rotate and not the tube, this gives the tube a solid feel and removes the weak point between the flexible tube and solid tube
• Tubes connect with a great amount of friction, these wont fall off or loosen up on you
• Bigger blower tubes for more air volume
• New back padding is not very comfortable; most of the pressure is pushed onto your back in 2 long vertical areas.
• Just like all redmax blowers, all of the weight of the blower is on your shoulders
• Hip throttle mount is more robust
• More power


All in all I like it more than my older 8001. It may not be as comfortable but the gain in power outweighs that. The newer design made the flexible portion of the blower tube much less awkward, higher up and bit further out so it doesn’t pinch my waist as much when I aim the tube to my left. Seems to use fuel at the same rate (fast) and has the same eye burning exhaust fumes.

[ralph02813]

Nice review, I have the 8050 I never noticed the fumes!

[A+Grounds]

thanks! when the wind is just right or your blowing out a garage the exhaust is just eye burning

[ralph02813]

ah - - - - almost no garages here!!

[Ridin' Green]

Maybe you missed my review I posted a month or so back about demoing the Stihl BR600M, Echo BT 770, and the Redmax EBZ 8500?

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.p...lower+demo+day

Try the Stihl HP Ultra in the new blower. I have no issues what so ever with fumes in my Husky 570 BTS (RM EBZ 7500 in orange)

[A+Grounds]

must have missed it! I've looked into that stihl ultra but i am just going to stick with redmax oil if this blower has a short life you can bet ill switch to stihl. my other 8001 is even older than the one that crapped out on me and i am still seriously considering a stihl, i did try a br600 on and it was a world of difference in comfort. how often do the valves need to be adjusted

[sjessen]

I have 2 8500's. Way more power than the 8050's. Uses more fuel and is louder. Lighter. Taller and narrower so is a bit top heavy, if you keep them in the back of your truck. The back pad is a little different but no less comfortable. I like the handle on the air tube in that the handle rotates rather than the tube itself. Seems like a nice feature.

Paid $540 total for one and $568(paid extra $25 for shipping/special order) for the other.

One other thing, being a strato-charged engine they are a bit harder to start when cold. If warm, they start first or second pull.

[A+Grounds]

oh yeah it takes me about 4-5 pulls cold and 2-3 warm my older 8001 were 2 pulls every time

[sjessen]

Originally Posted by A+Grounds

oh yeah it takes me about 4-5 pulls cold and 2-3 warm my older 8001 were 2 pulls every time

Am guessing they messed with the carb/choke some to keep pollution down for the epa.

[Ridin' Green]

Originally Posted by sjessen

One other thing, being a strato-charged engine they are a bit harder to start when cold. If warm, they start first or second pull.

Exactly right. My Husky is the same exact way. First pull every time if warm, but at least 4-5 when cold, and it takes a while to warm up. The Stihl is a lot better on those issues, and way, way better on fuel.