Makita 4-stroke back-pack blowers have been ordered by national grounds care contractor Countrywide Grounds Maintenance for a major new municipal authority contract in Essex. The performance and green credentials of the Makita BBX7600 have convinced Countrywide to equip their grounds maintenance teams with the latest Makita blower.

Seven of the 76cc MM4 powered blowers have been supplied by Ernest Doe & Sons, the major grounds care machinery distributor with 19 branches across Southern England. The order has been secured by the Fulbourn, Cambridge branch of Ernest Doe & Sons after a thorough performance trial by Countrywide.

“The Makita back-pack blower delivers substantial and controllable airflow,” says Andrew Gilliar, Regional Manager for Countrywide Grounds Maintenance based in Saffron Waldron, Essex. “We are also moving to a 4-stroke fleet of machinery to improve our emissions performance, cut our overall fuel consumption, remove the fuel-mix risk problems and reduce the noise output. Having Ernest Doe’s service right across our region is another reason for choosing the Makita machines.”

Andy Rice, professional grounds care equipment specialist at Ernest Doe & Sons’ Fulbourn branch, on the Countrywide trial: “Last autumn’s leaf clearance was a good test and the Countrywide operators reported that the Makita blower had the power needed and there is no strain on the operators arm.”

Weighing just 10.8kg including the air pipes, the Makita BBX7600 produces a maximum airflow of 19.5cubic metres per minute. The 3.75hp 4-stroke Makita MM4 engine bristles with design innovations that deliver more horsepower, more torque and more reliability than the same capacity 2-stroke motor whilst at the same time dramatically reducing exhaust emissions, cutting fuel consumption, lowering noise and limiting vibration.

Technically the Makita MM4 is a very advanced design. Importantly for reliability and long service intervals the MM4 has a patented pressurised lubrication system. The wet sump has a baffled pick-up, and the crankcase pressure generated by the piston movement is harnessed to pump the lubricant around the oil galleries through a series of non-return valves. The oil is recovered from the rocker box back to the sump. This pressurised oil system protects the engine from oil starvation if the back-pack blower is used at a steep angle.