I know that I could be wrong here. I apologize in advance if I am. But why does this seem like a shamelessly planted ad, made to look like a real post? I just have a hard time believing that this make of blower is that perfect.

- Super quiet
- Really green
- More powerful
- Easy to direct
- One of the best made
- Really light
- Inexpensive
- Absolutely no bugs, no design issues
- Refined operation
- Moves huge amounts of leaves
- No maintenance issues
- Hold up fantastically well

Plus, the poster apparently has several of these blowers, referring to them in a plural sense, as well knowing a lot of other people that also own the same make of blower. Seems a bit funny, as I have no idea who made the leaf blower of even a single one of my closest friends.

Just seems like a shameless shill to me. Sorry if I'm wrong.

John

{{gwi:301737}}

byoung registered about 1 week ago, 25 Mar.

It sounded a little like spam and a little over the top to me too. I looked Solo up anyway. I did not connect that they make sprayers. I was surprised to see that they made/marketed small power equipment. I have neither heard of nor seen their power equipment. Heck, in Virginia, there is no one that sells anything other than sprayers or parts according to their retailer list.

Masiman
Solo has been making small equipment for years. And it used to be good stuff. But they have went down the same path as Homelite. Kept lowering their quality over the years until no one would touch their stuff.

It can still be found. But mostly at cheap mail order places such as Northern Tool or at a few mom and pop hardware stores.

Have to be honest. They use to have some top of the line chainsaws.

Solo makes good equipment, sure, but they just dont' have any dealer support out there. Not much good for the homeowner or the pro.

Thanks for the info hippy and computeruser.

I thought there sprayers were supposed to be good although I chose Hudson for mine. Almost all the backpack sprayers I have seen have been the Solo model. Maybe they are just less expensive than the others. I saw the lack of dealer support and crossed them off as a potential regardless of how good they might be. Maybe they will pop up at Costco, BJ's or Sam's Club.

Sorry about that but,

--- not a spammer or a dealer. Just like this equipment.
Obviously you're all not going to take my word for it but look into this stuff solousa.com. (based in Virginia, I believe...)Gemplers also sells (and their tech guys highly reccomend...) all solo sprayers and blowers (pretty good company in my opinion...) and several other places.... Not cosco or HD or anywhere like that to my knowlege... but I guess you guys know best.

I did a lot of research before I bought these things... Just read all the posts out there about the problems guys are having with recalls, etc. on the better known brands. Now RMax is (being?) bought by Husquavarna etc... Some are really heavy, most are loud... I also don't like the 'from a dealer only' sort of scam that goes on out there. I have a stihl saw (which I love) but it was over priced which is how I feel about their new blower lines. I like their older blowers, (I have a BR400) but they just aren't strong enough. And as for the dealer support, sure there are dealers on every corner, but I feel like I'm talking to a salesman every time I have a question... and I haven't been completely in love with their quality of repair work either... I like that I can call the company and actually talk to the head tech and ask questions if I like...

I have a new baby so I wanted quiet, and I like the emissions thing too... Shoot me. I talked to a lot of people on other forums that use them, I have a couple, my buddy has one, and they get a lot of use... I prefer the 471 to my BR600 And the RM8000 - like a combination of the two, and the 472 is similar but stronger. In my opinion they're built a little better too.

Go buy what you like. I did.

These must be the dumbest posts I've ever read...

I've been running these things for a few years and have had less problems with these blowers (in particular) than any other two makes of my equipment put together...

I've even switched to the trimmers after my 'shin' started acting up. It leaves my echo's in the dust as far as torque and fuel consumption.

In my opinion, the 'Spam" guy above is more likely to be the dealer... a little "too eager" (or afraid) that someone else out there will figure out how good Solo stuff is.

No question (and I've recently used an 8001 and own a Br600, among many others) that the 471 is obviously the best, most reliable, and powerful blower out there, and the 472 is just in another league altogether...

Better built, longer lasting, quieter, uses less fuel, lighter, more cfm's/mph, cheaper.... argue with that???

That was not an ad. Geeze don't you guys have anything better to do than trash a guy who is excited about his machine. I get excited every time I get a "new" used mower and want to tell about it. Solo makes excellent equipment. They have a long history of great machines and have a plant in then USA.

Yes we do have better things to do. Unless you are a somewhat known element we are left wondering what is the motivation for the glowing review from a new user. Is it truly happiness over some lesser known/obscure product or is it someone trying to drum up business? A troll? Sorry if we have to try to divine this, but it is what it is. I wouldn't call it trashing as more trying to come to a consensus of an opinion on the product. There was some decent discussion of the product and the company. Overall, people who come to this thread can take away some facts and impressions that they can use to make a purchasing decision. Pretty good in my book.

Actually it was not 'happiness over some lesser known/obscure product' at all...They've sold over 10 million machines. Solo started making gas engine backpack equipment in 1950...World-wide distribution etc...

Like I said, I just did my homework before I plunked down my $$. But yes, I am excited about how well made these machines are, and how advanced the engineering is...

And by the way, like my original post points out, the QUIET factor is really a plus for blowers, which is what I was hoping some would pick up on. I was in town just yesterday and a landscaper was using a Redmax 8000 and the noise level was simply not appropriate. I noticed people grimacing as they walked by (myself included)... It is becoming a real problem in populated areas, so a blower that is not only really quiet, but more powerful than the others is kind of interesting/exciting to me.

Thanks, though, to those of you who responded in a helpful way. Most people that I've talked to who either own or use these things are really positive about them.

Well said.

I agree about the quiet thing. It's a real problem now with most of the newer units being just 'bigger beasts'.
At least Solo seems to have thought a lot about things a little differently. The engines have an incredibly long life span too. Mine don't have any problems. Even with the plastic parts.

They may have sold 10 million units of something since 1950 but I would be willing to bet that backpack blowers were not a large part of that number (not counting misters). I honestly don't recall seeing a Solo blower and I have lived from North to South on both coasts in the last 20 years. I stand by the "lesser known/obscure product" comment (product and not company but I would say the company is lesser known too). They have no presence where I have lived. I guess they are better known in your sphere. It's odd how the company history ends in 1996 on their website. I read something I thought would be there. They did manufacture equipment to be rebadged, notably Husky chainsaws in the 80's(?).

I'm curious as to what posts you thought were "helpful". What characterizes a helpful post to you?

Since some here think so highly of them, I'd really like to see a more rigorous comparison of the Solo products to other manufacturers offerings. If they can prove their worth and can get a decent distribution and support network going, maybe they can move 100,000 blowers this year. I am assuming they don't move that many now. Seems like a great parallel to Dolmar, another German origin manufacturer of power equipment. Dolmar makes some well regarded chainsaws, but many are turned off from them because they can't find someone to 1) buy them from 2) service them. I know it has kept me from buying them. I'd advise anyone else to stay away from Solo for the same reasons unless they are willing to go through any problems without dealer support. It's easy to be positive about a product when it is working well and as expected. They won't be as positive when they can't get convenient and timely customer support for problems. I don't see that happening with Solo given the list they have on their website.

Whoa! Someone got all riled up over this one... Have you been burned by this company or something?

Interesting though, that Solo was making the engines for Husky saws during some of their better years! Nice... I'm all in favor of going with the people who actually 'make' the equipment, rather than those that simply sell them on...

Listen, with all the posts (here and on other sites) talking of the problems with Stihl, Redmax, echo etc... I think that this is a really healthy discussion??!!! I think that we can all agree that these brands are certainly not what they once were. Why shouldn't a company making their own top-shelf stuff come to the front once in a while? Even if they are smaller here in America?

I mean, sure, if you can't find dealer support and don't like doing your own maintenance, buy from a giant brand name, but if you just like stuff that works great (think older jonsred, for instance) and can wait two days - not my experience, by the way... to get a part, why not go with what seems to be the best equipment?

I don't know, I don't use Solo for everything either, but for blowers and trimmers, they sure seem to be waking up a lot of people.

That's all I was trying to say... I mean if someone is making a blower out there that is powerful (and of course some are going to be loyal to their brands), and it's way quieter and uses less gas, what's not to get excited about? I don't really care who it is personally, it just happens to be Solo in my opinion.

You know, there are lot's of places putting up noise ordinances and stuff and it won't be long before you won't be able to buy a Redmax (Husky, I guess now)or whatever if they don't get their act together. The environmental thing too is a plus, but whatever, I'm not going to argue the point to death. Mine's a workhorse, quiet and not too thirsty. Whatever.

I'm really not riled up at all. Hard to convey that in an internet posting. I try not to post when I am riled. I figure if I am riled then I lose by getting mad at the internet. It just seems silly.

I too think it is a healthy discussion. I know I learned something.

Again, I'd really like to see some sort of comparison of these machines. If the power is there with reliable, quiet and low emission engines, I hope they do great. I'll strongly consider them if the dealership issues get resolved when my BR420 gets worn or I need something bigger.

They're garbage. Stay away from Solo.

I have a Solo 472 that I bought about 5 years ago, and this spring it worked a couple of time and then just bascially died.

I am a former mechanic, so I took it apart to see if I could find anything obvious. Nothing -- everything looked to be in good order.

I put it back together and got it to start up but it seem to have lost about 50% of its power. And once it reaches operating temp (about 5-7 mins) it really starts to slow down. Eventually it just stalls out.

If anyone out there has some tips or suggestions please let me know.

As a last resort I am gonna fluse the fuel and refill with fresh. Oh, and I also replaced the spark plug with a new one properly gapped to 0.020"

Solo Makes some of the better chainsaws on the market today. I recently had a chance to run there new 80cc saw the 681, let me just say this, (it's a monster) I'd say it had just a little more power than a stock Dolmar 7900. If you don't know your chainsaws, let me put it to you this way. The Dolmar 7900 will out pull a Stihl ms460 by a fairly good margin, and it will run almost neck and neck with an ms660.

Now there blowers are not as powerful as say a br600, redmax ebz8001 or my Shin 8510, but they are built just as good or better than any of the other leading manufactures like Stihl.

"Built just as good as any of the other leading brands"???? Then why don't any of the landscape professionals use their equipment? Perhaps it's marketing that has brands like Stihl, Echo & Redmax in the hands of people who use them everyday. Maybe it's dealer support, reputation, I don't know. All I can say is, hey, it's great if the guy is happy with his blower. But to say it compares to the leaders in the field a bit of a stretch. A word to the wise is to go demo one from a dealer (if you can find one in your area) & then go demo a Stihl or Echo or Redmax or Shindawia & see how it compares. There is a reason the pros use the stuff they do.....Period.

To colonel428
I have been on lawnsite for a while. I am not surprised that pros don't use it. No dealer support. BUT I also notice those people are usually very close minded also. They only go by the brand name. I just did a poll on comparing reliability of 4Mix vs other 2 cycles. 4Mix is 160% more trouble than regular 2 cycles equipments. But guess what. They turn and attack me instead!!! They are not exactly the brightest bulb on the christmas tree!!!!

To byoung
Don't worry what other people say. If I am not mistaken, if this is the 75cc 4 cycle blower, it is the same as Robin/Makita blower. I heard a lot of good things about them. When I am ready to buy a BP blower, this is high on my list. I believe Makita own Robin, but not sure and Makita is no dogs. It is a 4 cycle, of corse it is cleaner than 2 cycles, also by default it is quieter and have a lower tone. It has separate oil so it has less of the problem of 4Mix that deposit on valves cause failure. This is so typical that people start jumping on this before they even know what the blower is or even use it. Keep us inform how it is.

"They are not exactly the brightest bulb on the christmas tree!!!!"

I'd suggest doing a forum search on yungman.

colone1428 yes Solo makes grate products, but they have zero marketing and zero support. Makita owns Dolmar, but all makita power products are made in Hamburg Germany, at Dolmars factory. Until recently Dolmar and Solo shared R&D, almost all of Solos chainsaws are made by Dolmar.

I am seriously considering 471KAT. Most of the people don't care about noise, I do. I have been looking at blowers for a while, all the big ones are sooooo loud!!!!! I don't know how accurate is the spec. Hard to imagine it is as strong as the PB755 or the Redmax, it is only 53cc. But I think it is going to be stronger than all the other 65dB blowers out there. Anyone really have direct comparison on the blowing power with the big blowers?

One thing that bug me a little is the plastic lower crankcase. What else is plastic in the engine. I wrote to Solo, they said the crankcase is made of strong polymers.

FWIW, I have had a Solo for about 5 years now. It is not the 471, it is a smaller backback model (I think maybe a 445). It is quiet (relatively speaking of course), it is light, and it has had no problems at all. Is it the most powerful blower out there? Absolutely not. IMO though, it has more than enough power for most homeowners. Now and then I don't pay enough attention to where I am pointing the nozzle and I do a little damage to plants and beds with the air stream. I can imagine a bigger blower would be even worse in that respect. Of course there is a throttle control, but I have rarely run any blower on anything other than full speed (perhaps a bad habit).

Anymore opinion on Solo blowers?