Review of the Tanaka Gas Powered Handheld Leaf Blower
As of this writing, there are 291 customer comments and 24 answered questions for the Tanaka Leaf Blower. I have read the customer feedback and then condensed the results into this review. I hope this review helps you when shopping for the best leaf blower to help maintain your yard.
Best Features
- Produces an air velocity of 170 MPH and 441 CFM
- Weighs 8.6 pounds
- Well-balanced for comfortable use and less fatigue
- Large two-finger throttle for easier operation
- 7-Year Consumer Use Warranty
Item Specifics
The Tanaka Leaf Blower features a 23.9 cc commercial grade 2 stroke engine that provides excellent performance and reliability. The class-leading air volume at 441CFM allows you to blow leaves much faster. This leaf blower weighs 8.6 pounds and is well-balanced for comfortable use and less fatigue. The Tanaka Leaf Blower produces an impressive air velocity of 170 MPH (with taper nozzle). It features a large two-finger throttle for easier operation. This leaf blower comes with a 7-Year Consumer Use Warranty.
Poor Customer Service; Make Sure You Have Service Center in Your Area
There were complaints about poor customer service. The problem with a lot of the gas-powered leaf blowers of any brand is that once gas is in it, they often become nonreturnable and not allowed to be shipped in the mail. So then you are left to find a service provider which may often be hundreds of miles away. This is a common complaint with buying gas-operated machines. Companies could do more to make the customer satisfied but many don’t.
A customer shared what happened when the recoil rope broke. He said, “I must admit, the first 3 times I used the blower, I was impressed with the blowing power. The fourth time, the recoil rope broke at mid pull, not at extension, so there was an oblivious flaw in the rope or the rope was of poor quality–or both. The rope broke after 30 days, so I couldn’t return it. I called Tanaka and they said the rope wasn’t under warranty and I would have to take it to a Tanaka service location 1.5 hours away (I live in an MSA). Tanaka was kind enough to give me the telephone number for replacement parts where I ordered the part for $14, which is to be shipped directly from Tanaka for $10. What should have happened? Tanaka could see from my Amazon order that the blower was new and this was an incident of infant mortality. At this point, they should have apologized for my inconvenience shipped the part to me without charge. Stay away from Tanaka lawn tools.”
Can Be Hard to Start
One disadvantage to gas-powered leaf blowers is that they can be hard to start in comparison to electric or battery-operated leaf blowers. The Tanaka Leaf Blower is no exception. A customer shared, “It was not easy to start at first.It took about 10 to 15 pulls. Now after using it for a while, I find that not using the choke, it starts a little easier. As with any 2 cycle engine, it takes a little finesse in using it. But once it is started it is a beast, a lot of power and very smooth running.”
Lightweight for a Gas-Powered Leaf Blower
In general, most gas-powered leaf blowers weigh a lot more than electric or battery operated leaf blowers. The Tanaka Leaf Blower though is fairly light at just 8.6 pounds. A customer said, “This is a wonderful leaf blower. It is powerful but light enough that I don’t need a strap. My grandchildren can handle it and think it is great. I wished I had purchased one of these years ago since I have many uses for it. I have used it to blow the debris off my riding lawn mower, lots of leaves, clear the walks, dust, and cobwebs from one our barns. I suggest a mask and safety goggles for lots of dust.”
Vibrates Strongly
Be aware that The Tanaka Leaf Blower will vibrate when in use. This may bother your hands. Gloves worn on the hands may ease a little bit of the vibrations that you will feel. A customer commented, “Only con I can come up with is this thing vibrates – HARD. Your hand will be tingly after an hour of use, but that is pretty typical with blowers. Only listing this because I have used blowers that were not quite so harsh on the hand, but then again they were not as powerful.”
Powerful
The majority of customers who left feedback for The Tanaka Leaf Blower left positive feedback. One person said, “This for me is a life saver. I used to rake, vacuum, and bag leaves by the bushel full. Very time-consuming. with the Tanaka blower, it has reduced my time in the yard considerably. At idle I use it on the porch and stoops of my home. It does a very good job removing leaves and dirt at idle. In the yard, at full power, it moves leaves and small twigs with ease. I move the leaves into a pile then blow the pile of leaves across my yard onto my hill behind my house. Using the leaves as a mulch bed.”
Will Suck in Baggy Clothes
If you are right-handed, the left side of this unit will suck in clothes if they are free-flowing or baggy. A customer commented, “I don’t like the end nozzle-I preferred my old Husqvarna 125B flat end nozzle. If you are right-handed and wear baggy clothes, the air intake will be a slight hassle as it tries to suck clothes in or blocks airflow…left-handed use is much better. Does not have cruise control for the throttle. I miss my Husqvarna, but they didn’t last more than 2 or 3 years without fuel/carb problems (I owned 2). I’ll see how long this one lasts–it comes with a lengthy warranty, but make sure there is a service center close to your area as authorized repair centers are sparse.” Another customer said, “Very good blower only problem is it sucks your pants in when you using it on your right hand otherwise it’s a very powerful blower and light.”
Good Price
For a gas-powered leaf blower The Tanaka Leaf Blower is priced well. In general, gas-powered leaf blowers cost a lot more than battery-operated or electric leaf blowers. Most of the comments left on Amazon about the price were favorable. One customer said, “Wanted A Stihl gas blower, but just couldn’t justify the price, Stihl is really overpriced, so I looked and bought this Tanaka TRB24EAP and I love it, starts on one or two pulls and a lot of power for such a small engine. Very easy to use and light so your arms don’t get so tired, look no further, just a great Leaf Blower.”
Not Overly Loud for a Gas Leaf Blower
Most gas leaf blowers will be much louder than a battery-operated or electric leaf blower. However, this Tanaka Leaf Blower isn’t too bad as far as being loud goes. Still, you may want to wear ear protection. A customer shared, “good air volume and speed. not too loud. lasts 20-30 minutes without needing refueling. starts easily. worth the money. fairly light. best handheld blower I’ve used.”
Pros
- Good price
- Lightweight for gas leaf blower
- Powerful
Cons
- May not be a service provider near you
- Vibrates hard
- Can be hard to start
Tanaka Gas Powered Handheld Leaf Blower Conclusion
The Tanaka Leaf Blower features a 23.9 cc commercial grade 2 stroke engine with air volume at 441CFM. The weight of the Tanaka Leaf Blower is 8.6 pounds. The Tanaka Leaf Blower has an air velocity of 170 MPH (with taper nozzle). It features a large two-finger throttle for easier operation. This leaf blower comes with a 7-Year Consumer Use Warranty. An issue that a lot of people had wasn’t with the warranty as much as trying to find a service center in their area that would service The Tanka Leaf Blower. Some people found service centers were several hours away. You may want to see how close your nearest service center is, before purchasing this leaf blower. As with many gas-powered leaf blowers, things may go wrong with the engine and the pull cord, so be ready to have it serviced. This is not a loud leaf blower, as far as gas leaf blowers go. It is, however, going to be louder than most electric or battery operated leaf blowers. You may want to have ear protection ready. For the price, The Tanaka Leaf Blower is priced very fair for what you are getting.
Common Questions
Here are some top questions that I found for people considering buying the Tanaka Gas Powered Handheld Leaf Blower.
- Do you need to use gas without ethanol? Yes, the Tanaka Leaf Blower needs gas without ethanol in order to run properly.
- Does it come with a shoulder strap? No, it does not come with a shoulder strap. However, for a gas-powered leaf blower, the Tanaka is very lightweight. You shouldn’t need a shoulder strap in order to operate this leaf blower.
- Is this variable speed? Yes, the trigger controls the speed.
Related Article: Best Leaf Blower Options to Help Keep Your Yard Well Maintained
