If you need a leaf blower, buy this one

I use a Hitach/Tanaka string trimmer that's about 8 years old and after replacing the fuel lines because of ethanol, never had a problem.
It starts within 1 pull using an NGK plug and the thing will pull you along as it's trimming.

Just ordered. Thanks for the info.

Have the hitachi blower. Had to replace the pull cord mechanism after less than a year. Good enough for a regular yard but doesn't seem that strong. Got mine new on amazon for ~$85. Think that sale happens 1-2x per year

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. It seems to be a big surprise that used and recondition items sell for less than new.

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There's no surprise, they cost less and carry the same warranty as new. I've picked up lots of items and it's difficult to even find a scratch on even the Grade C stuff. Why pay $150 for a belt sander when you can get it for $50?

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Nothing worth buying on that site has been in stock either. What’s the deal?

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They sell out quickly, worth checking out for anything interesting. They had the Tanaka blower from the OP for $32, I'd have bought one just because at that price.

I mix my own, but run a tank of Trufuel through my stuff every tenth tank I guess. The small difference in oil or fuel can change your ratio pretty quickly.

My blower likes a hotter mixture when I mix it myself, but will run fine on Trufuel. Weed eater takes both equally

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If I can get ethanol free fuel and mix my own 50:1, is there any benefit from still getting Trufuel?

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Yes, because pre-mixed fuels don't use gasoline and instead use a more stable fuel base. For some reason people think that non-ethanol gasoline is going to avoid the problems that happen when equipment is stored with fuel in it. You will still get varnish and damaged carburetors if you let any type of gasoline sit in them long enough. Pre-mix fuels are more stable and will store much longer, good for occasional use equipment and to flush out 2-stroke equipment before seasonal storage. I use the stuff in my chainsaws and hedge trimmer, use it flush out my trimmer and edger before putting them up for the Winter.

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Its a great unit but cover your bases before ordering September 12, 2016 Verified Purchase I read the reviews about this unit and saw a thread where one of the reviewers mentioned that you should make sure you have a local service center before ordering.

Here is the rub - once you put fuel in it, you wont be able to ship the unit anywhere (by law) for repair/returns etc. I went online and saw a service center within 10 miles of me, so I ordered. It arrived and I was quite pleased.. but after a few uses, suddenly it wont fire anymore. I am guessing the switch has failed as it seems to have stopped firing. I called about return and was informed about the issue with shipping anything that has had fuel in it.

So I have no choice but to take it to the repair center. I called the repair center to arrange it, but was told that they havent serviced the hitachi units for several years!. The online list isnt up to date.. I went through all the rest in my local area. I called each one. Some of them are listed as a service center but dont service all types of devices (like hand operated tools). As luck would have it, the closest service center to me is 58 miles away. Arggggh... I have no choice but to take off work to drive the hour to the service center (they are open until 5:00 pm). I made the trip.. checked the unit in and was told that they dont actually work on them at that facility, and it will have to be transferred to one that does, another 10 miles away. I said ok (whats the difference NOW?) Then the kicker.. After all this, I was told it would be 6-8 WEEKS!..

In the end, I will have gone without the blower I bought for most of the season, taken off work twice, driven a total 240 miles. In hindsight I would have gone to my local power equipment house and bought the Echo. It would have cost 40$ more, but it would have saved a ton of hassle.

If you are going to purchase this product, you owe it to yourself to check your area for a service center at [...] and call them to ensure they will service the blower. A lot of the issues I am working through arent a fault of the vendor or Hitachi (like the law about returning via mail, or the repair time etc) but the prospective buyer needs to be aware of the situation. The blower itself was fabulous before it died.

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Aren’t they all. LOL
Buyer beware.

this is an option for me, but I am also considering an electric unit. How big of a difference is it going to be for a gas vs electric?

Thanks a bunch. Definitely leaning towards gas.