I just bought a Redmax EBZ8500 only because I got it for $130 and it looks new. I'm normally a Stihl and Echo guy but I must say that this Redmax does the job very well. It was weak when I got it and hard to start but after I put on a $15 new carb and fuel line kit from ebay, new spark plug and and cleaned the muffler and exhaust filter this thing runs superb now with plenty of power. I also cleaned all of the carbon from the exhaust port and did a little porting on the exhaust port and gasket and this thing really blows now. With the nozzle to close to the ground it'll blow grass right up out of the ground and leave a bald spot!
Stihl recommends Ultra HP oil for those 4 mixers , keeps the valves cleaner..but , any synthetic FD oil will do just as well as Ultra. Stihl BR 450 is what I use.
The motor went out on my Br800 going to try the Red max 8500 not a big fan of sthil ran into to many problems with the cheap plastic on the tub and handles
EBZ7500 here, but if I had to do it again, I would go all ECHO. ECHO products may lack a little in power, but make up for it in ergonomics, especially when it comes to weed eaters. ECHO weed eaters are like a luxury vehicle. If you are an older person over 40, ECHO will save you aches and pains.
I had a red max 7001 that I really liked but it gave up at the end of the 16 season, I bought a br 600 for spring clean ups and love it....added a br 700 this fall....dealer support was a big choice as my redmax dealer is a 90-120 minute round trip.....my 1st back pack a stihl br 340 is still alive and screaming...2002 model....cranks on the 1st - 3rd pull even if sitting for a month...also have a stihl bg55.... Most of my lawns has a gravel drive and just a sidewalk or a very small paved driveway, quicker to use the bg vs getting the backpack out of the rack and putting it on ....
Thanks for the comparison buddy, I've been debating getting a stihl lately. Nice meeting you and your dad in Louisville last week too. Take care, Giant Gnome.
