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Stihl SH 86 C-E vs SH 56 C-E - The Differences

Further down the page, you'll find some explanations regarding the key similarities and differences between the Stihl SH 56 C-E and the Stihl SH 86 C-E.

But before checking out these explanations, here's a table that summarizes the main pros of each of these 2 leaf blowers:

Stihl SH 56 C-E	Stihl SH 86 C-E

Bigger fuel tank Significantly less expensive	Higher CFM Higher MPH

Feel, Fuel & Noise

Belonging to the line of Stihl blowers, both the SH 56 C-E and the SH 86 C-E should have a shared standard of manufacturing and attention to detail.

These two products are handheld blowers and therefore provide you with superior mobility.
gas-powered blowers, both products offer a dependable power source that can be refilled quickly, allowing you the mobility to cover extensive outdoor spaces without interruption.
With 12.3 lbs versus 11.5 lbs, the Stihl SH 86 C-E is only marginally heavier, and the small gap in weight is unlikely to make a noticeable difference in fatigue or maneuverability.
Both devices maintain a noise level of 70 dB, ensuring they're equally respectful of your neighbors' peace and equally pleasant for you to operate without excessive noise.

CFM & MPH

While the difference is slight, the Stihl SH 86 C-E's CFM rating of 444 marginally outpaces the 430 CFM of the Stihl SH 56 C-E, potentially resulting in a subtle improvement in leaf-clearing performance.
The MPH of the Stihl SH 86 C-E, at 170, modestly exceeds the 143 MPH of the Stihl SH 56 C-E, allowing it to blow leaves on grass or lift heavy debris (acorns, etc.) and wet leaves more effectively.

Engine specs

The Stihl SH 56 C-E's fuel tank has a volume of 18.3 fl.oz., exceeding the 14.9 fl.oz. of the Stihl SH 86 C-E. Therefore, you may store more fuel in the device and theoretically operate it longer, if their engines are equally demanding.
With matching engine displacements of 27.2 cc, these products likely share similar fuel consumption rates per stroke, translating to comparable performance levels. Both leaf blowers come with 2-stroke engines, which necessitate an oil/fuel mix for operation.

Other features

With the capability to function as leaf vacuums, both products provide users with an efficient and tidy solution for managing leaf piles. This dual-purpose design empowers users to switch between blowing and vacuuming modes with ease, simplifying their gardening endeavors. Furthermore, both the SH 56 C-E and the SH 86 C-E are equipped with a mulching function, offering a comparable mulching ratio of 14:1. This feature enables you to effortlessly convert vacuumed leaves into nutrient-rich mulch or compost, providing added convenience in your yard maintenance routine.