Stihl is going to come out with a new model backpack blower called the br420. The company that I work for on the side was choosen to test beat this new model before it comes out. The br 420 is pretty much just an updated version of the br400. The casing and stuff is redesigned but nothing to major. The reps siad that they have fixed the hard starting problem. I got a chance to use it today, it was pretty good but still dosn't compare to the redmax and shindawias, although it does seem to have a little more power than the older blowers. The reps did say that stihl is also going to come out with a newer model comparable to the redmax, so we'll have to see what they come up with. The 420 is an improvment though. After I used the 420 I used one of the redmaxxes and I still like the redmax better.
Forget Stihl, the longevity stinks. We have a shindaiwa blower that has been around for at least ten years and is still used daily. We have never had a stihl last over three seasons.
nathan--that's pretty unfortunate luck you have with sthil blowers. mines four years old and running great. zero problems except for the usual broken choke knob. replaced once for $1.80. I remember the shindawa I tried the same day I bought the sthil. I didn't like it. GEO
They are bringing out a BR-420 and BR-340. Saw them at the show in Indy. Rep. there said two pulls, turn off choke.
If they want to fix the "hard to start every freakin' time" problem all they need to do is put a primer bulb on the thing. The hard starting is the only thing I don't like about mine. Everytime it's 7 or 8 pulls to start.
I MUST HAVE 2 OF THE BEST STIHL'S EVER MADE. I HAVE 2 BR400'S AND THEY ARE BOTH 6YRS. OLD. WHEN I START THEM I PULL 3 TIMES WITH THE CHOKE ON AND THEN TURN IT OFF AND OFF WE GO. DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH STARTING YOURS.
