How to Change a Leaf Blower From Vac to Blower

Some leaf blowers are equipped to vacuum leaves and turn them into mulch.

Many leaf blowers are designed to be converted into a vacuum cleaner. Some even have shredding functionality so that, when you vacuum, the machine mulches yard debris into a beneficial byproduct. Conversion takes place by adding and removing tubes. You can identify whether your blower is adaptable because it will have come with extra tubes. The conversion can be completed in a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Remove the debris bag. The debris bag is used only in the vacuuming application. Just undo the hook-and-loop fastener tape and remove the bag.

2. Remove the debris bag tube. Turn the elbow counterclockwise and disengage the tube from the pegs on the motor housing.

3. Remove the vacuum tube. The vacuum tube is, often, attached using a hose clamp. But also look for a peg-and-clamp-type setup. Unscrew the hose clamp to remove the tube. Allow the vacuum tube cover to swing back to cover the hole. There may be a small latch that you have to rotate or push to release the cover. Replace the cover, because the engine won’t start if the cover and vacuum tube are both removed--it's a safety mechanism.

4. Install the blower pipes. Align the grooves in the straight pipe with the pegs on the motor surround. Slide the pipe onto the motor surround's spoutlike protrusion.

5. Turn the pipe clockwise to lock it into position.

6. Align the grooves in the fan head nozzle with the pegs on the straight pipe, and slide the nozzle onto the straight pipe.

7. Turn the fan head nozzle to lock it.

References

• Echo Shred ‘N' Vac Operator’s Manual