I bought my first Echo 6-7 years ago and found it to be the most effective leaf vacuum of the five different ones I have owned. I recently used it to clean up accumulated bird seed hulls and residue under a feeder after a long winter and a wet spring and wad frustrated at a loss of suction. I found what amounted to a concrete like cast that formed around the blades. After removing the impaction and cleaning the blower housing it was back to normal, but I noted significant wear of the fins of the blower, so I bought a new one to replace the old one. The echo starts reliably after one or two pulls, only stops when it is out of fuel, has an easy to empty bag, and picks up debris includind small sticks, while leaving rocks behind. An excellent machine.