My experience is i own a 2-stroke and 4-stroke weed wacker. The 4-stroke isn't worth its weight in newspaper. It is hard to start, and i really don't feel like it has the torque. It does, however, have low emissions. For my money its gotta be 2-stroke. Especially in a situation like that. I think a good quality 2-stroke would last a while longer, IMO.

FWIW, I don't think anything beats the 2 stroke engine for outdoor power equipment.

I would go with the 2 cycle myself. I have a 2 stroke weed eater & a Toro 3650 2 stroke snow thrower that I really like. As soon as I use up the gas/oil mix in can I'm switching to Mobil 2T oil that everyone is raving about (search lawnmower forum for 2T oil) they say that the 2 strokes run better & no smoke. It's not cheap though...I bought a quart of Mobil 2T and it was $9 w/tax , but a qt should last me a very long time.

I bought a Ryobi 4 stroke 990r weedwacker/brush cutter in 95. After initial problems getting it to run right at 7000 ft above sea level it far outperforms any 2 stroke that any of the neighbors have.

4 strokes (and 2 strokes) under EPA certs run far too rich at altitude but 20 years experience in the motorcycle industry and popping the limiter caps to re-adjust the low and high speed mixture screws and that puppy has far more torque than any 2 stroke I've tried this high up.

Cuts brush with the blade like a circular saw and wacks weeds the same. Barely sips gas, runs on any gas, and seems to go forever on that tiny tank. Starts a little harder than a 2 strike, compression you know.

I've got a snowthrower attachment for it and that's a real back saver.

When this Ryobi dies I hope someone is still making a 4 stroke but gee, this one is 12 years old and still goin' strong.

IMO the only thng good about two stroke?!? they cheaper in more ways than one except for the high dollar brands. I've had 2 stroke and four stroke. I also agree 4 stroke is just a better deal if you willing to pay more for the lower end models when compared to the cheap two strokes. I have found what kills a four stroke is letting it set around for long periods of time. They don''t want to start and stay running due to a gummed up carb. Two strokes usually the mufflers will plug up and you think it died, but most of the time it's just the exhaust can't excape or it too has set for too long. If I was going to get one that takes attachments then 4 stroke would be a good choice, if I was just going to weed whack with it then a two stoke would do the job just fine.

A leaf blower 2 or 4 cycle should be fine. I think a 2 stroke is best for the multi-attachment equipment. I'm not sure if the 4 stroke engine would be happy going from weed-wacking to tree limb removal(turning it upside down) with the same head, just a different attachment. Maybe if it's full pressure it will work ok. As I said, I'm not sure though. The thing you have to watch for with a 2 stroke is to not run out of gas. Since the oil is in the gas, it isn't getting much oil before it quits.

I switched from Mobil 2T racing oil to Amsoil Saber Pro. I've been very happy with it. I always mix at 32:1. My Toro t1000 lasted almost 18 years at 32:1. All my 2 strokes (Echo PAS-260, Husqvarna 45 special, Husqvarna BT165, etc) definitely start easier with the Amsoil stuff. I'm guessing it must be the additives.

-gh

Here is a link that might be useful: Amsoil 2-stroke Oil

knuttle
I would say it depends on the machine. Good quality of either should work fine. 2 stroke is lighter which for me is important (but then I'm a big wuss).

I parked my 1/2 dozen various good runing weedwackers about 5-6 years ago,their gas/oil mix gasoline containers for a trailer mounted 12 volt Fimco sprayer and 10 gallons of Roundup genaric weed killing liquid.$102.00 delivere4d to the door.Hook the trailer to my small YT,and ride and spray.tbk

Having had a handheld blower and graduated to a back pack blower, I'd never go back to the hand held ever. Its great and far more powerful. FWIW I got a Stihl. Great unit, two stroke

I just bought the new Echo model, PB 251. It's a 2-stroke that is supposed to be quieter and have lower emissions and be more powerful than their other handhelds. I'll see when I try it out soon.
I looked hard at the Makita 4-stroke blower. I think it could be argued that it may be the most durable blower on the market.
It is made by Dolmar, the German subsidary of Makita that makes commercial chain saws. The engine is a Fuji Robin (owned by Makita) that has a iron sleeve, chromed bore and 3 piston rings. Four strokes in general last longer than 2-cycle engines though most homeowners never actually wear out the engine.
The Makita is very light also (9.8# vs 9.9# for the PB251) The reason I didn't buy it? The stated CFM for the Makita is 320 CFM and the CFM for the Echo is 380.
I don't think that you could go either way. Yeah backpaks are more powerful, but I don't need it to just sweep the driveway after edging. But if you are up North doing leaves, then get a backpak.

OP: After I posted my original request I bought a Makita Leaf Blower BHX2500 with 4 cycle engine That was eight years ago. I have used the blower to clean everything from the riding lawn mower, to gutters, the garage, etc. I even use it to blow leaves in the fall and gum balls in the spring.

The blower has the best starting engine in my shed. Regardless of how long it has been since the last time used it. it starts with one or two pulls on the rope. Most of the time the first pull.

I change the oil every spring, and clean all external surfaces. I leave the gas in the tank through the winter. I have not used any gasoline preservatives.

PS I leave the gas in all of my equipment without preservatives. I have had with one problem engine in the last 20 years. That was my push mower. When we move to the new house, I drained the gas from the engine. Several years later, when I tried to use it the diaphragms in the carburetor had dried out, and it surged so badly that it was unusable. It was a 4 cycle engine.

I bought a Craftsman "Speed Start" 2 cycle blower about 8 years ago. It had an adapter you can buy for about $15 that fits in your drill so you can crank and start it if it is temperamental. I used the adapter twice just to try it and worked fine, but it has always started in one or 2 pulls so I just hand start it all the time. There are always electric or battery powered which start real easy:)

Here is a link to a 4 cycle one, but they still may have a 2 cycle one, yes I know Sears is kinda iffy right now.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-cycle-25cc-handheld-blower-w-speed/p-07179461000P

I see Troy-Bilt has the same starting system called Jump Start and they have blowers also. Here is a video of the Jump Start options, same as Craftsman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQZLAtFuDBM