7 replies to this topic

[PEL]

I recently bought a STIHL model SR 450 which is a motorized back pack mist blower sprayer. It does an excellent job but I can not on earth figure out why it has only shoulder straps and no waist strap. I think that if the deisigners had ever done any backpacking at all they would have included (or at least the option) of having a waist strap so that the entire weight is not carried on the shoulders. It is a LOT easier if some of the weight is born on the hip bones. Does anyone have any advice on how to add a padded hip strap to this sprayer. I emailed STHL and their only response was to contact the nearest distributor which I did but now joy.

[Wade's Wines]

Cool sprayer!
I have the hand pump backpack sprayers, which have a waist strap... I never fasten it, just use the shoulder straps. So I'm no help. But let us know how you like the sprayer, especially the misting setting, and how the weight is. One may be in my future!

[PEL]

Cool sprayer!
I have the hand pump backpack sprayers, which have a waist strap... I never fasten it, just use the shoulder straps. So I'm no help. But let us know how you like the sprayer, especially the misting setting, and how the weight is. One may be in my future!

I love the sprayer. I have been using an Italian version for three years but it broke down so I got the STIHL. In my opinion it is a much better built sprayer and about the same price. The other difference is that I can get it serviced or repaired at a distributor less than 10 miles from me instead of trying to find out who can fix the Italian version. It is MADE IN USA at Virginia Beach which is another good selling point to me. In reading your other posts, it seems as if you have a substantial vineyard - for an amateur (or "tweener" - between amateur and commercial). I think you would love this sprayer. It can easily do 1/4 acre on one tank fill even with full canopy and it blows the leaves around so you get good coverage on the front and back. Cost is about $700 which includes an extended waranty from 2 years to four years (only $15 additional). It is not light but I am 67 years old and can manage. I sprayed a friends 1/2 acre vineyard Friday. It is on a slope but I managed. I put it on the tailgate of my pickup or on top of a 55 galllon fermentor with lid so it is easier to slip on an off. If you used one, I doubt you would ever go back to hand pump. Besides, you can use it to blow leaves or spread dry products such as fertilizer or whatever. If you have never used the waist strap, give it a try. It will take a load off your shoulders. "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys" :-) We are never going to get rich growing grapes so might as well have some fun and not worry about it.

[Wade's Wines]

My next $700 goes on posts... but it's on my list! Thanks!

[Hammered]

Now there you go, got me contriving... I have a small gas powered leaf blower and a 4 gallon backpack sprayer. If only I could hook them up together.

Calling Red Green!

[Hammered]

But, seriously, I wonder if you could make a pack frame from some PVC pipe and pick up a thrift store backpack and then attach the sprayer to the frame and use the shoulder and waist straps to achieve what you're wanting to do.

[HoCo Al]

I recently bought a STIHL model SR 450 which is a motorized back pack mist blower sprayer. It does an excellent job but I can not on earth figure out why it has only shoulder straps and no waist strap. I think that if the deisigners had ever done any backpacking at all they would have included (or at least the option) of having a waist strap so that the entire weight is not carried on the shoulders. It is a LOT easier if some of the weight is born on the hip bones. Does anyone have any advice on how to add a padded hip strap to this sprayer. I emailed STHL and their only response was to contact the nearest distributor which I did but now joy.

I'm beginning to save up for the SR450 - hope to get one once my new wine grape vineyard is getting into production. I've read good things about it on other forums.

I used to do a fair amount of heavy backpacking with a couple of my boys. Carried up to 60 lbs. on a couple of Grand Canyon 4- and 5-day trips - water is heavy, and you gotta carry a lot of it when it's over 100 degrees and you don't know where your next water source is and you're using up a liter per hour or so (assuming you don't want to die from heatstroke ).

Anyway, the packs we used had heavily padded waist straps - actually they were called hip belts, since they transferred most of the pack's weight to your hips and made the carrying much easier on you - took almost all of the weight off your back and shoulders. I still have a couple of those packs, and took a look at the hip band attachment. They use a very robust attachment mechanism - in the ones I have, there is a very strong reinforced padded band built into the backback and tightly attached across the bottom of the pack and higher up, 7 or 8 inches from the bottom. This acts like a giant belt loop through which you thread the hip belt, also heavily padded and reinforced. (One of the packs also has fiberglass rods that connect the top of the pack to the hip band for stability.)

The problem with the SR450, from looking at the manual online, is that it looks like there are only two rings, one on each side at the bottom of the unit, to which you you could easily attach a hip band. I would have to see the SR450 in the flesh to get a better idea, but my gut feel is if you tried to attach a hip band to those rings on the SR450 you might put too much stress on the attachment points, particularly if those attachment points are plastic, which I assume from the diagrams they are. The SR450 as delivered appears to have most of the weight carried by the attachment points of the shoulder straps at the top of the unit, which are presumably reinforced sufficiently and designed to carry that much weight. If you try to transfer much of that weight to a waistband / hip belt, and the bottom attachment points are plastic, then I would be afraid that they might break.

But let us know what you come up with and how it works out. I definitely will be in the market for something the SR450, or something similar, in a couple of years.

Al

[rpage53]

I recently bought a STIHL model SR 450 which is a motorized back pack mist blower sprayer. It does an excellent job but I can not on earth figure out why it has only shoulder straps and no waist strap.

Stihl sells an optional hip belt for the blowers that should work since the sprayer is a blower with an attachment. I haven't tried it.
http://www.stihlusa....ccessories.html

Rick.