Ryobi backpack blowers are designed to offer the same functionality as some gas powered blowers, but they do not really seem to measure up that well. You begin to ask if it really is worth it to compromise for a cheaper, less expensive backpack blower like the Ryobi or opt to save more for a powerful gas powered blower. And to top it all off the Ryobi backpack blower is a hub for all sorts of complex problems that can make is seem like a terribly bad investment. This isn’t to say however that the Ryobi backpack blower is all bad, in fact it has a high mode that takes care of hardscapes and moves dry, large leaves effectively. It does this whilst remaining considerably quiet at just 75dB on high mode and 81dB on turbo mode, which is quite impressive for the amount of power it produces. The Ryobi backpack blower is conveniently designed so it is very easy to use. There are essentially two types of backpack blowers from Ryobi; gas powered blowers and battery powered blowers.
The following problems only account for gas powered Ryobi backpack blowers.
Table of Contents
1. It Starts Smoking
Whenever a powertool starts smoking (emitting smoke) it spells problems with the insides of the powertool and the Ryobi backpack blower is no exception. Whenever this problem ensues on your backpack blower you should switch it off immediately.
To Do
- In such a case you would need to replace the fuel (gas) currently present in your Ryobi backpack blower. Stale or old fuel may be causing this issue so it is highly important to replace this old gas with fresh gas.
- Make sure that you mix the gas with 2-stroke engine oil at a 50(gas) to 1(2-stroke oil) ratio.
- Make sure that your Ryobi backpack blower’s fuel container or fuel lines are not leaking. If there are any leaks it is very important to replace the parts where the leaks may be coming from.
- Be sure to clean your Ryobi backpack blower’s air filter as it might be clogged with grease and oil, which is also a huge cause of the blower smoking. If the air filter cannot be thoroughly or properly cleaned then it would be wise to install a new air filter.
2. It Doesn’t Start
This is a very common and well documented problem for powertools that run on gas or fuel like the Ryobi backpack blower. It is very powerful for some house use cases producing an airflow of up to 175mph, this makes clearing spaces quick and easy. Although a gas powered blower lasts longer than a battery powered one, a gas powered one will often need to be maintained a lot more than a battery powered one making it very costly.
To Do
- With the Ryobi backpack blower, the first and foremost solution is to change the old fuel in the backpack blower with new fuel. At a fuel to gas ratio of 50:1.
- Make sure that the prime bulb (a unit located next to the air filter unit that socks up the gas from the gas tank of the backpack blower and pulls it through the line into the carburetor) is working by pressing on it to create a suction vacuum, which should pull fuel from the tank. If it doesn’t do this it needs to be replaced.
- Sometimes this problem is because the recoil starter of the Ryobi backpack blower doesn’t engage with the blower’s engine crankshaft. The recoil starter is what starts the backpack blower. So if this is the case then the recoil starter needs a repair or replacement depending on how severe the problem is.
- Also make sure that the spark plug is working as it should be. If it has any wear or damage it may be causing it to not spark properly.
- You might need to clean and/or replace the piston rings of your Ryobi backpack blower’s engine. Be sure to test the pressure the blower produces inside the engine motor’s cylinder because a poor compression may keep the backpack blower from starting up.
- The carburetor may also need thorough cleaning using a carburetor cleaner to do so. If it is too much for you, enquire the aid of a qualified repair technician.
3. Its Hose Won’t Stay Attached
The hose is what connects the backpack part of your blower to the part that blows the air out. It becomes a very frustrating problem when the hose keeps detaching from the backpack because it consumes up most of your time.
To Do
- Two metal clumps hold the hose intact and when installed correctly the hose will remain as such. Make sure it is so. If the clamps have corroded, be sure to replace them immediately.
- Do not store your Ryobi backpack blower in moist or wet areas, as it might lead to the corrosion of the metal clamps.
- The hose won’t stay attached if there’s been severe damage to the backpack blower’s tube as they’re flexible. If the tube have any cracks or crevices, they need to be replaced.
More To Do
- Cleaning the Ryobi backpack blower regularly is a very important task to do.
- When done using the blower, be sure to remove or pour out all the fuel from out of the gas tank to avoid any problems with clogging, as fuel tends to get sticky and very stale over time.
- Do not store your Ryobi backpack blower in a room or space that is regularly pierced by the sunlight. As this can lead to making the fuel bad as well.
Conclusion
The Ryobi backpack blower us a powerful tool that can be used for all manner of blowing jobs; blowing leaves and dust off if surfaces with incredibly high speed airflow. However sometimes a lack of user based functionality can make a product seem and be very uncomfortable for users. The Ryobi backpack blower is quite affordable though. And for the things it aids you in doing, that’s not so bad.
