Blower muffler question.

[Tree Reb]

I don't know much about blowers but mine was playing up so I took this thing out, pretty clogged up, it goes good without it just a bit noisy.

Question is does it need it? Without it could it do any damage? Maybe just cut the mesh off?

I've got it soaking in degreaser, if it cleans up I'll put it back. Just wondering.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Spark arrestor, I usually take a torch (propane) to it and then brush it, blow air on it... Cleans right up.

 

[Al Smith]

I didn't even know they had something like that .Probabley to prevent fires in a pile of leaves .

Blowers being air drivers are under a constant load whereas a saw can be under varied loads . On a saw you might run 12-14,000 rpms but a blower cranks it up to around 8500 give or take .With a blower the power requirements grow exponetually with rotational speed .

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Stihl uses the same arrestor on the FS200/250 on up as well Al. And you said it, keep the fire risk down.
BTW Steve, since switching to the Stihl full synthetic, my arrestors rarely clog anymore, even at running 40:1. I take em out and check and clean em once in a while, but no where near the problems I used to have.

KNOCK ON WOOD

 

[oscar4883]

Torch, brush, and air is a great method for cleaning screens for sure. The screen removal may require a slight tuning change if you leave it out but IMO spark screens are a good idea to leave intact. Not so much for the fire hazard, but for keeping junk from getting into the muffler and possibly getting into the cylinder depending on the complexity of the muffler.

 

[Al Smith]

Ha I got to thinking about this .On say my Stihl back pack BR 400 blower if a person were to gut the muffler like on a saw you won't be able to stand the noise .Lawdy that would rattle the teeth right out of your head .

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Yeah... same with my 320. Let alone an FS 250 YIKES!

 

[Tree Reb]

I figured it was some sort of spark arrestor, and was going to cut the mesh off and put it back, not much chance of me starting a fire but Oscar changed my mind.

I keep it in the truck but I did leave a saw sitting around unused for a while once and a hornet built a nest in the muffler so I think I'll put it back, and it is a bit loud without it.

 

[Al Smith]

Those things are annoying enough without having your eardrums blown out from an open exhaust .

 

[CurSedVoyce]

I had to remove a mud wasp nest (the beginnings of one) from one this year. Little bugger was making it in the spark arrestor. I had not run that unit in a few days. Then it barely ran. I pulled the arrestor and the mud just plugged the inside of the tube after the screen. Could not see it until you looked through the tube for day light. I was momentarily befuddled by what looked like a clean screen. Starting the unit blew it up in the tube. I would hate to think what that clay plug would have done to my cylinder had I not had a screen in.