[Squizzy Taylor]

I was looking at a Honda 4 stroke blower in our small engine shop last week. I'm been nothing but impressed with Honda's small engines over the years but this thing looked...welll...very plasticky.

Has anybody had any experience with them. I can't remember the model but it was comparable in weight to the top of the range Echo we are currently using. If I can avoid 2 stroke stuff I do.

[Pelican]

What type of blower is it? Backpack, handheld, walk behind?

Most handheld and backpack blowers here are just about all plastic for the weight savings. Billy Goat makes a walk behind blower that has a plastic blower housing that I'd have second thoughts about.

I wasn't aware that Honda was getting in to landscape equipment. It's a big market they've missed so far, and they should have some nice offerings.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Its your basic handheld blower. I think Honda has been content to just sell their engines to various manufacturers but I have seen a lot of the new Honda push mowers around...as well as concrete helicopters.

These are the only Billy Goats we see Down Under

[cutntrim]

Honda sells trimmers along with mowers, but I didn't know they sold blowers. Their small 21" commercial mowers were well built. I say "were" because mine's 6 or 7yrs old so I can't speak for the new ones. The service guy at the local Honda equipment dealer told me a few years ago that their string trimmers were actually manufactured by a subcontracted company and not by Honda. Maybe that's the case with that blower.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Originally posted by cutntrim
The service guy at the local Honda equipment dealer told me a few years ago that their string trimmers were actually manufactured by a subcontracted company and not by Honda. Maybe that's the case with that blower.

It does look that way...it just didn't have that typically Honda quality feel about it. The main reason why I asked it didn't seem much heavier at all than the Echo...and you have to wonder if the 4 stroker will power up like the 2 stroke zinger.

My experience with Honda clones...and the cheaper "under licensed" engines has been really bad. We were all for buying a Muck Truck...: http://www.mucktruck.com.au/
but our hire shop has so much trouble with them they are getting rid of them. The problems where mainly with the Black Honda engine. Last time I hired one it didn't make it through the first day.

[Pelican]

I've got one of Stihl's new 4-Mix 4 stroke trimmers and I like it a lot. It's a 4 stroke that runs on 2 stroke gas with no crankcase oil reservoir. I believe Honda's has a crankcase filled with oil.

It weighs just a bit more than the 2 stroke, but is much quieter, uses less gas and is easier to start than the 2 stroke counterpart. It has every bit as much power.

[Squizzy Taylor]

http://www.hondashop.com.au/db/show_...6ab18c0395a513

This is the one.

and a bit of blurb here:

http://www.ferret.com.au/articles/d6/0c0442d6.asp

and more here:

http://www.ongmac.com.au/hondablowers.htm