How to Start a Backpack Leaf Blower? | First-Start Steps

Start a gas backpack leaf blower by setting the choke for a cold start, priming the bulb, and pulling the rope briskly until it fires.

Firing up a gas backpack blower trips up plenty of owners, usually because the starting ritual changes between a cold engine and one that’s already warm. Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn first start of the season or just want the routine down cold, this walkthrough gets the engine running without the yanking contest.

The Standard Cold-Start Sequence

Every gas backpack blower follows the same basic ritual when the engine is cold. The order matters — skipping the choke or primer is the most common reason a new blower won’t fire.

Place the blower on a level surface on the ground. Trying to start it while wearing it is possible, but the ground position keeps the unit stable and lets you pull the rope with proper force.

1. Move the ignition or stop switch to the ON or I position.
2. Set the choke to the closed or cold start position. This enriches the fuel mixture for ignition.
3. Pump the primer bulb several times until fuel is visibly present in the bulb.
4. Pull the starter rope slowly until you feel resistance, then give it one brisk, strong pull.
5. Once the engine fires and immediately stalls again, move the choke to the open or RUN position.
6. Pull again to keep the engine running, then let it warm up briefly — about 2–3 minutes — before using the throttle.

For warm starts, skip the choke entirely. A warm engine needs the leaner mixture the open choke provides, so just prime once if needed and pull.

Brand-Specific Starting Details

STIHL’s BR 500, BR 550, and BR 600 manuals describe the pull technique precisely: take the starter grip in your right hand, pull slowly until the rope engages, then give it a brisk, strong pull. The same manual emphasizes starting on a level surface to keep the blower steady.

Husqvarna’s 360BT, 570BTS, and 580BTS models add a throttle step. For a cold start, set the start/stop switch with the throttle control at 1/3 speed, close the choke, and pump the air purge bulb until fuel fills it completely. After the engine starts, gradually open the choke rather than flipping it all at once.

Safety Rules Before You Pull

Where you start the blower matters as much as how.

A few other cautions apply across brands. Never operate the blower indoors or in an enclosed space — the exhaust contains carbon monoxide. Check that the air filter is clean before your first start of the season, since a clogged filter starves the engine and makes starting nearly impossible. And if the blower has been sitting for months, drain old fuel or add a fuel stabilizer; stale gasoline is the leading cause of hard starts in spring.

These steps cover gas-powered backpack blowers specifically. Battery and electric plug-in models start with the push of a button or trigger pull, with no choke, primer, or pull rope involved.

When It Still Won’t Start

If you’re shopping for a new unit and want a model that starts reliably, our tested roundup of the best gas backpack leaf blowers compares starting ease, weight, and air volume across the top picks.