Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Outdoor Power Equipment). This thread is read-only.
My yard care arsenal included an inexpensive 2-stroke Chinese backpack blower. That tool fell squarely in the “good enough” category. It would always start on the 6th pull and wouldn’t restart warm, but it got the job done.
That all changed for me when my clumsy footwork tripped over the pool plumbing, causing me to fall backwards onto the blower. The net result, other than my injured pride, was that the blower now always has a minor vibration during usage. That new damage / defect got under my skin, leading to this new blower purchase.
My plan was to hold out for the not-yet-released Echo X Series PB-9510T Backpack Blower. This newest machine is their most powerful. It is incrementally more expensive than their next highest model.
That plan changed when the national chain big box store ran a sale on that next highest model, the Echo X series PB-9010T Backpack Blower. As I didn’t need that incremental performance increase, I jumped on getting this for the sale savings.
All of the Echo backpack blowers are offered as either a hip throttle control or a tube throttle control. I chose the tube version.
This has POWERFUL specifications: 48N of force; 220 mph air speed; 1,110 CFM and 79.9 cc of displacement. It is LOUD at 80dB(A). It is acceptably heavy at 26.7 lbs dry. It has a large fuel tank, holding 0.66 gallons of 50:1 gasoline, 89 octane mid grade or higher.
The blower starts VERY easily, prime bulb then pull, initial high idle sharing tube on/off control.
WOW is it powerful! Make SURE the footing is good or the force can topple the operator.
This is LOUD. Make sure hearing protection is being worn. It is great the exhaust points away from the operator, like loud pipes on a Harley, making the noise MUCH worse behind the operator. My neighbor already informed me about his noise concerns. Fortunately for all residents, the City permits yard equipment to exceed the 60 dB maximum residential noise limit.
The straps are very comfortable and are easy enough to single handed get onto the operator’s back from starting the machine’s engine on the ground. There is a nice toe tab to steady the machine during starting. The blower includes small back vents to aid the operator from not overheating by blowing some air onto the operator’s back. The kit includes a bespoke panel to seal off those back vents, such as when operating in cooler weather.
This works AMAZINGLY well. It blows away stuff quickly, easily and far.
Echo PB-9010T Backpack Blower
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Rear View
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Exhaust
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Carburetor
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Shoulder Straps
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Bottom View
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ECHO is right down the street from me, in the next town. Curious to see how you like this. I see so many landscapers by me using these but not sure if it’s because they are awesome or just local. But looking around, a lot of people love these and they last.
My prior satisfactory Echo experience led me to select this brand, then this device. Sooo cool they are local to you!