Makita EB5300TH 52.5 cc MM4® 4-Stroke Engine Tube Throttle Backpack Blower

I started with a Hitachi hand-held leaf-blower, but the size and scale of my yard argued for something more serious.This is a very nice tool to use. It was simple to put together, easy to add fluids (oil and gas) and to start. Quality is excellent.Simple to pick up and get on my shoulders once running. I quickly learned I needed a luggage click strap between the shoulder pads to keep them from migrating https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EWL9CJ2/). The shoulder straps, upper and lower back padding are shockingly good and comfortable - I never notice the weight. The hand control is perfect - you can blow leaves "forever."It is reasonably quiet and runs longer than I need on a tank of gas. It doesn't have much oil, but it's easy to change almost as routine (open the plug, tip it into the garbage, drain it, then add 3-4 Ozs of fresh oil).I usually add my Hitachi hand blower in my left hand - the twin streams allow interesting leaf movements. The Makita pushes more air than the Hitachi, but just barely. I usually wear a headlamp when blowing leaves and end up looking like RoboCop - people stop and take pictures.I purchased the less expensive version and it is fine for 1/2 acre of mostly trees. More is always better with leaf blowers and if I could only have 1 tool, it would be this or the next size up Makita. Combined with the hand-held Hitachi, this is perfect as twin stream really do offer useful options for moving leaves.I wondered if this was overkill. However, this year, leaf blowing became a reasonable task that required 20 to 30 minutes Vs. an arduous hour to hour and a half.One of my better purchases.

This is a great blower if you know how to take care of it! You need to use Stabil in the gas 100% of the time and drain the gas out and run the carburetor dry before you put it away for the season. If you live where you can't buy un-oxygenated gas it makes matters even worse. Oxyginated gas can and will still go bad even with Stabil in it. Believe it! I've seen it happen in as short a time as 3 months in warm weather. So don't believe what the Stabil bottle says about a year and two years protection! Alcohol is corrosive period! The carburetors on these blowers won't handle any residue or corrosion caused by leaving gas in them for extended times of non use! The passages in these carburetors are microscopic. Super small! If anything at all gets in the Carburator passages from stale gas like corrosion or dirt even the slightest little bit the blower either won't run at all or will not run a wide open throttle and just die. Many reviews say they are having trouble with the unit not being able to run over 1/2 or 3/4 throttle. One of two reasons that are common for that problem is from the owner leaving untreated gas in it for extended periods and the other which is not well known is the vent in the gas cap is damaged, dirty or stuck creating a vacuum in the tank as the engine is trying to draw fuel but can't get enough. If this is the problem for the engine not running full throttle it's easy to trouble shoot. With the blower running and holding the throttle past where it won't accelerate loosen the gas cap. If the engine takes off the gas cap vent is not working properly causing a vacuum in the gas tank. I hope this helps some owners of this fine machine. So sad Makita stopped making gas powered product for the US. I'm quite sure its from the demands the EPA is putting on engine builders. That is why Honda does not make lawn mowers for the US anymore either. Honda does still make gas lawn mowers for other countries but not the US any longer. Our wonderful EPA!

Had it for a month. I have used it about 12 times. It is a good size for 1/2 acre to 1 acre yard.One pull starting. Oil fill and drain are easy to access. I would say it is very quite compared to all my neighbors 2 stroke machines. It may be a tad heavy compared to 2 stroke but not a deal breaker.It came missing two of the nozzles that were to be included but Makita sent them FEDex no questions asked.Straps seem to favor one shoulder but likely I just don't have it adjusted correctly. Generally pretty comfortable.Seems quite fuel efficient. 2-3 hours per tank. Good power. Glad to not need messing with mixing 2 stroke oil anymore! I have run it on 87 and 93 octane without any change in performance. I add a touch of Stabil to the fuel to protect the carb from fuel moisture pickup. I run it about 80% of max throttle to reduce the abuse to the engine.Throttle has slightly stiff trigger but works fine. A thumb throttle permits setting a constant engine speed so your index finger can take a break. ->Nice FeatureNote that there is an air intake setting for HOT or COLD weather into the carburetor. Running it on the COLD setting when it is hot outside can supposedly overheat the engine. Don't do that.I was going to order it a year earlier but there seemed to be no stock near me. This year I gave the order to Amazon and have been very happy with it.Hopefully it will last a long time. Happy Makita Customer.

I have a smaller yard now and I don't need the extra power of a 2 stroke. There is no mixing oil and gas so it's easier. My yard is smaller so it works for me. I just wish I had the 2 stroke power in a 4 stroke.