The F601 blower from Billy Goat makes for a powerful addition to a homeowner’s landscaping tools as they look to get rid of fall foliage, storm debris, litter, and anything else that might be an unwelcome sight on the lawn. Designed with enough power to produce wind speeds upward of 100 miles per hour, the F601 is also a compact, wheeled blower that offers a minimal footprint for easier storage in garages and toolsheds. Getting started with this uniquely small blower and its impressive amount of power requires homeowners to be aware of basic operation guidelines, maintenance requirements, and troubleshooting tips.
Before getting started, make sure to read the full operator’s manual and move the blower to a ventilated, level area. Ensure that this area is free of pets and bystanders, since their presence only increases the potential for injury as the blower is assembled, tested, maintained, or repaired. With safety glasses and gloves on, it’s time to get acquainted with this impressive piece of equipment.
Start with Blower Assembly
Billy Goat’s blowers are shipped in a few basic pieces that must be assembled prior to the first outing. For F601 owners, this means attaching the handle and the wheels to the equipment. It’s a good idea to assemble the handle first, before attaching the wheels, since the blower will be immobilized and easier to handle. Simply attach the upper handle to the lower handle, tightening the lock screws so that the assembly is secure. With the handle in place, properly position and secure the blower’s Aim-N-Shoot control cable. Follow instructions in the owner’s manual to finish this process.
The wheels should be installed next. Place the wheel spacer into the wheel and then insert the wheel into the designated bracket, lining it up properly with the holes on either side. Those holes are used for the next step, which involves inserting the wheel bolt and tightening it properly with the included wheel nut.
Basic Operation Tips
The Billy Goat F601 blower is actually very easy to use. After starting the equipment with the included starter grip, all it takes is a simple adjustment of the manual adjustment knob in order to change the air director. This helps the blower line up its gusts of wind with the debris that needs to be cleared. For heavier or more persistent types of debris, operators can use the Aim-N-Shoot feature to channel the air and get the job done. The direction of Aim-N-Shoot bursts can be controlled with the included Aim-N-Shoot cable alongside the blower’s handle.
Billy Goat F601 Maintenance Guide: What to Know
The key to safe blower operation may be getting to know its controls and the basics of operation, but the key to long-term durability is sticking to regular and consistent maintenance guidelines. These guidelines are spelled out in the included operator’s manual and reviewed below.
1. The Maintenance Schedule
The maintenance schedule is the most important component of regular blower maintenance and long-term durability. This schedule recommends certain types of maintenance based on the number of hours of blower usage over a long period of time. Available for full review in the included operator’s manual, the maintenance schedule features a few important highlights:
– The blower requires inspection for damaged or worn parts before each use.
– Operators should check for excessive vibration and loose parts after every four hours of use.
– The impeller should be inspected for damage or excessive wear after every 100 hours of use.
2. Impeller Removal
If the impeller’s inspection after 100 hours of use shows that the part has become damaged or excessively worn, it will have to be replaced so that the blower can keep performing consistently and powerfully. This process should only be performed with a cool engine. Operators who recently used the blower may have to wait more than hour to perform this replacement in order to ensure their safety.
With a cool engine, follow the instructions included in the operator’s manual by removing the front cover. This will expose the impeller bolt, washer, and lock washer, all of which must be removed in order to free the impeller from its housing. The impeller should slide off freely once these parts are removed. Replace it with an OEM model made by Billy Goat.
3. Tire Pressure
Tire pressure should be checked routinely, perhaps prior to each use of the Billy Goat F601 blower. Properly inflated tires should be maintained at approximately 20psi in order to safely roll over debris and keep the blower standing.
Where to Find Troubleshooting Help and Information
If the blower is vibrating excessively, has difficulty turning on and staying on, or shows any other common signs that a maintenance issue is at hand, the included operator’s manual can help. Complete with full troubleshooting advice for all of the most common problems, this manual should be an operator’s first resource when diagnosing a problem and assessing what it will take to correct the issue.
BillyGoatParts.com Has OEM Parts for Blower Maintenance and Repairs
Whether it’s to resolve a troubleshooting issue or simply to perform routine maintenance, OEM parts are often a necessity for Billy Goat blower owners. BillyGoatParts.com has a large selection of OEM parts for the F601 model and makes them easily available through a parts search tool. When parts are in need, customers can use this tool to filter parts by blower model number, required part number, or the equipment’s engine manufacturer.
