Manufacturers of leaf blowers have had to think carefully about the new laws about noise and air pollution released from gas driven power tools. Out of all of these implements the gas blower has had the worst record in creating great amounts of noise pollution. Echo haveanswered these requirements by making machines that both meet these requirements and still produce the power we need to get the yard tasks done. They have also managed to develop some great features in the process.
With a full air speed of 145 miles per hour the Echo PB 251 hand held leaf blower is easily able to deal with clearing decent sized yards. The speed of the air gets the leaves and debris moving and then the 390 CFM air volume produced makes sure that it continues moving. It is fired up by a 25.4 cc power boost vortex engine. It definitely packs a punch. Although it isn't as powerful as back pack versions it still manages to deal with most jobs and you haven't got all the problems of having to get strapped in. Despite the power generated, the amount of noise produced has been kept down to 65db, which should meet the regulation needs in most areas. There is some discussion about the design of the engine as far as the number of piston rings used. This engine has one piston ring where as different designs have 2 rings. There have been no problems reported about this, as far as I recollect.
One of the most important features of a good power tool is its ability to start rapidly and easily. The PB 251 turns over very easily and there is no need to prime the fuel every time. When the weather is hot and you need to blow your yard and sidewalks off, you need something that is going to start rapidly and complete your yard as soon as possible. This Echo tool does just that. It also has no issues starting when the engine is hot. Some consumers have complained about its ability to start, but this only appears to be a small minority. It is thought that the need for lean mixtures to fit in with emissions regulations might be the reason for some problems in these sorts of machines. You need to make sure you use the correct grades of gas and oil in the fuel mixture.
Several features make this gas powered leaf blower comfortable to use. With a weight of only 9.9lbs this is a light blower which helps a lot if you have to use it for it for longer amounts of time. It has two handles which makes it easy to hold and the top handle has three positions to help in directional operation. It employs rotation control technology to prevent the force of the air coming out of the macgine from trying to twist the machine out of your grip. There is also a neat trigger lock. As well as being very quiet the machine doesn't suffer very much from vibrations.
The reliability and standard of production of yard power tools varies a lot but this blower is undoubtedly on the quality side of the spectrum. It has a large amount of power and will take care of anything for the general home. It will blow light to moderate piles of lawn clippings and leaves with no effort at all. It is a fantastic tool for a reasonable price with a fantastic 5 year warranty.
