The F18 blower from Billy Goat is an impressive piece of machinery, with a compact footprint, a lighter overall weight for easy mobility, and enough wind power to handle everything from fall foliage to heavy storm debris and litter. The equipment’s impressive amount of power does require new operators to master its most basic functions, however, in order to remain safe during operation and protect the blower from damage while it performs a wide array of cleanup tasks. Before taking the F18 blower series out to get some work done around the home for the first time, make sure to review basic safety, maintenance, and operation tips that will benefit both the equipment and its user.
Safety First: Please Be a Knowledgeable Blower Operator
All too often, consumers assume that they know how to use a heavy piece of outdoor equipment based solely on watching other people use it around their own homes. The truth is that blowers like the Billy Goat F18 require careful and skilled operation, with skills that can only be learned by reading the included instruction manual and practicing the basics. Before getting started, review, the manual’s guidelines for assembly, ignition, operation, and troubleshooting. Make sure to start the blower outdoors and away from any pets or bystanders. Finally, remember to let the equipment cool before troubleshooting, maintaining, or repairing it as required.
Getting Started with F18 Blower Assembly
The Billy Goat F18 series comes mostly assembled, but does require at least a little bit of work on behalf of new equipment owners before it can be placed into regular use. Start by assembling the handle. The F18’s lower handle is already attached to the engine and impeller housing, but its upper handle requires assembly. To do so, slide the upper handle into the appropriate grooves on the lower handle. Use the included screws and bolts to secure the handle at all points indicated in the instruction manual.
With the handle installed, the throttle control must be attached to the handle’s left side for easy control of the engine and blower after ignition. This requires several lock nuts and bolts, as well as several Ty-wraps, and is described in detail in the instruction manual that came with the blower.
Billy Goat Blower Operation is Easy
There really isn’t much to worry about after the blower’s engine is on and air is being produced. The equipment can simply be pushed throughout the lawn as required, blowing and grouping debris into piles that are easier to manage, mulch, and dispose of entirely. One area that does require a bit of acclimation is the Aim-N-Shoot system. Controlled using a small lever on the blower’s handle, Aim-N-Shoot directs a highly concentrated burst of air at a larger piece of debris in the lawn.
The Aim-N-Shoot’s two directions are used to handle different types of debris or different desired movements. By using an upward angle with the Aim-N-Shoot system, operators can blow the top of a debris pile so that it falls over. With the system blowing downward, it can be used to move heavier debris toward a growing pile.
Maintenance: What to Know for Equipment Longevity
Maintenance is absolutely essential in order to ensure that the F18 blower lasts for many years to come. It all starts with the company’s maintenance schedule, included with the blower’s instruction manual. The maintenance schedule is an easy point of reference that clarifies when to conduct key forms of maintenance based on the number of hours that the equipment has been used. The schedule recommends looking for worn and damaged parts prior to each use, suggests a check for excessive vibration or loose parts after every five hours of use, recommends checking the impeller for damage or cracks after every 100 hours of use.
The instruction manual also features a comprehensive guide to replacing the impeller if it does show significant damage or worrying cracks. This process involves just a few simple steps, including the removal of the front cover and the extraction of several key nuts and bolts. The instruction manual’s step-by-step procedure makes it significantly easier to manage impeller inspections and replacements without the assistance of a local service center.
Troubleshooting: How to Find Information About Common Problems
The final component of the Billy Goat F18 blower’s instruction manual is dedicated to troubleshooting and solving common problems. This section focuses on the most likely occurrences after the blower has been in use for some time. Whether it’s excessive vibration, a locked engine or one that doesn’t start at all, or even problems with the Aim-N-Shoot system, the troubleshooting matrix in the instruction manual makes it easy to find solutions, recommend replacement parts, and get the blower back into service as quickly as possible.
For More on Blower Maintenance and OEM Parts, Visit BillyGoatParts.com
Billy Goat’s F18 blower is an impressive piece of equipment that will greatly enhance outdoor cleanup work throughout the year. Whether it’s assistance with regular maintenance or finding the parts necessary for repairs, BillyGoatParts.com can help. With expert tools and an online parts search tool, the site makes blower ownership easy for experienced and novice equipment owners alike.
