Steelfan's Full Review: Troy - Bilt Tb320bv 31cc 2 - Cycle Gas Blower Vac
The time had come for us to retire our two previous gas blowers (Poulan Weed Eater Featherlight Gas Blower Fl1500). They served us well for over 4 season of pretty heavy use and were all but worn out. We were also at the time using my mowing partner’s electric blower/vac which helped us with cleaning up leaves during the fall months, so it seemed a simple decision to buy a more expensive blower with a vac attachment. About two months ago, he happened into Lowe’s and started looking for our replacement. He decided on the Troy - Bilt Tb320bv 31cc 2 - Cycle Gas Blower Vac and gave me a call to help with the decision. I told him that I trusted his decision but I really wasn’t sold on Troy-Bilt’s products other than their tillers. After we talked for a bit we decided to give this a try mainly due to its features and price. I am happy to say that I think that we made a good decision.
Features and Specs.
The engine on the blower is a very powerful 31 cc two cycle engine with a fuel ratio of 40 to 1. Airflow is rated at a hefty 205 MPH and 405 CFM. The pull start is spring assisted to make starting the machine easier. This machine almost always starts on the second pull after priming and putting the choke on full for one pull and half choke the second pull. The vacuum kit is included and the bag capacity is about 1 bushel. Mulching ratio is about 12 to 1 which reduces leaves down very well. This bag attachment comes with a larger vacuum tube which mounts above the blower chute and a bag that mounts directly on the blower chute. The weight of the blower is about 11 ½ lbs. The controls consist of the chock on the rear of the blower and the throttle which is variable speed tucked directly under the handle for one hand operation. Most of the machine is made of molded plastic and it comes with a two year limited warranty. The DB rating a full speed is about 76.
How does it work?
The Troy-Bilt Tb320bv is an awesome blower/vac. Its power is simply incredible so much so that you need to be careful not the take the ground or mulch out from under the leaves or grass that you are blowing. There is a curve on the blower chute to help this problem and the throttle speed variation makes slowing the blower speed easy and helpful in this type of situation. The vac attachment is easy to install and does a great job around trees and bushes or any other obstacles. Emptying the bag is quite simple but be careful not to overfill the bag. Overfilling the bag makes it very difficult to open the zipper and remove the debris. I also like the fact that the blower tube is long enough to reach all the way to the ground without bending. The throttle placement is both a good and bad thing. It is easy to control the blower with one hand but I found several times where the control was easily bumped reduce the speed. My solution is to open my hand on the handle and hold the throttle to the position that I want. I found that this blower/vac is much better at removing even wet leaves from grass than our older blowers. The power and speed of the machine makes cleaning driveways, decks, and lawns a breeze and the vacuum attachment is an absolute must for working around obstacles. And with this machine there are no cords to drag around behind you which is something that I always hated.
Cons.
This section will be relative short since I really like this blower/vac. Two things that I already mentioned are the throttle control placement and the ability to take mulch and ground with you when blowing. These two things can be remedied with a bit of practice. The only other thing that still concerns me is the lack of history of this brand name in this market. Yes, Troy-Bilt has made tillers for years but it seems to be quite new to this market. I really can’t include this as real a con, but be aware that my experience is limited to about two months of pretty heavy use with this blower/vac.
All in all: I am very pleased with the performance of the Troy-Bilt Tb320bv so far. Both me and my mowing partner are impress with the way this machine has worked and saved us time. Much bigger tests for the machine lay ahead at the beginning of next year's mowing season, so I will definitely update this review after we use it more. As for now we will recommend this product for anyone looking for a quality blower/vac at a good price ($137.28).
31cc Gas Blower Vac Spring Assisted Starting System Can generate up to 205 MPH Dual Operating Handle 11-1/2 pounds; 2-year limited warrantyMore at Amazon Marketplace
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