ECHO PB-2620 X Series Handheld Gas Leaf Blower review

A handheld gas blower with two genuinely different nozzle settings

The ECHO PB-2620 is a 25.4 cc, two-stroke gasoline handheld blower that ECHO places in its X Series. Its appeal is not a backpack harness or a vacuum bag: it is a relatively compact, handheld engine tool with a helper handle, variable-speed cruise control and two supplied tube styles. That makes it a practical reference for a homeowner or groundskeeper who prefers gas power and wants to move leaves without carrying a separate battery system. ECHO describes the engine as professional-grade, but that label is positioning, not an independent measure of yard size or clearing speed.

The exact current manual identifies a diaphragm carburetor with purge pump, an automatic recoil starter and a 20.3-ounce fuel tank. There is no electric start or battery charging plan in the operating instructions. In exchange, the owner needs fuel that follows the manual's 50:1 gasoline-to-two-stroke-oil ratio, 89-octane unleaded gasoline, and the specified fuel restrictions. That routine matters as much as the blower's peak output: fuel has to be kept fresh and handled safely, while the air filter, spark arrester and cooling passages need regular attention.

Round and flat pipes are separate performance plans

The PB-2620's published airflow and speed depend on which pipe is fitted. ECHO's October 2023 operator manual lists 456 CFM and 172 mph with the round pipe; with the flat pipe it lists 428 CFM and 180 mph. The current support table repeats those nozzle-specific values, and the exact product page lists the 456-CFM/172-mph pair. Do not combine 456 CFM with 180 mph as though one nozzle produces both. The round pipe has the higher listed air volume; the flat pipe has the higher listed speed. Those are manufacturer specifications, not a test of how quickly either arrangement clears your particular leaves.

ECHO's product page also gives a 15.8-newton force figure, but the linked operator manual does not list a force specification. Treat the force number as a page claim rather than a manual-verified threshold. If your choice depends on a documented minimum force, this record cannot confirm it from the manual. The three-pipe packing list and product page's round/flared-end wording support having both styles available, but a pipe change is still an operating choice: install the one suited to the task and use the matching performance line.

Handling, weight and air-filter tradeoffs

The manual lists 9.8 pounds dry with the blower pipes fitted, or 8.8 pounds without them. Neither figure is a fueled working weight; ECHO does not give a complete operating weight in the inspected specifications. The secondary handle gives the other hand a place to steady the tool, and the rubberized grip and throttle lock can make an extended pass less dependent on holding one trigger position. ECHO provides shoulder-harness attachment points, but the harness is separately sold, not part of the manual's listed package contents. If a weight ceiling is firm, compare the dry-with-pipes figure with your limit and remember that fuel adds weight.

The double-grid intake is intended to reduce clogging and interference from clothing. ECHO pairs it with a pleated-paper main filter and foam pre-filter for dusty conditions. That is a useful design detail, not a reason to ignore inspection: dust and dry yard debris still make filter care part of ownership. The 70 dB(A) sound-level entry is measured at 50 feet under the cited ANSI OPEI method; it should not be treated as an ear-protection substitute or a universal reading at the operator's position.

What the gasoline routine asks of the owner

The manual's cold-start sequence uses the stop switch, throttle-position lever, choke, purge bulb and recoil starter. ECHO instructs the operator to warm the engine for three minutes before use. It also cautions against running continuously at low speed: residue can build up, so the instructions call for at least five minutes at wide-open throttle each hour and inspection or cleaning of the spark-arrester screen after about 40 hours. That is specific maintenance guidance to follow with the current manual, not a schedule inferred from another ECHO blower.

When operating, wear eye and hearing protection and a face-filter mask, and keep the pipe pointed away from people and pets. These precautions matter because the blower moves dust and debris at high speed. The fuel-powered format avoids charging pauses, but it brings exhaust, engine sound, warm-up, refueling and maintenance that a battery handheld does not. If you do not want a mixed-fuel engine, the EGO LB5302 is a different, battery-powered handheld; if you need leaf vacuuming and collection, the EGO LV5000/LV5005 have a separate blower-vacuum plan. Neither is a direct gas-engine equivalent.

Who should keep it in the comparison

Keep the PB-2620 in view if you specifically want a gas handheld, accept its fuel and maintenance routine, and value a choice between a higher-volume round pipe and a higher-speed flat pipe. It is less suitable for a shopper who needs a confirmed complete fueled weight, a documented force threshold, a supplied shoulder harness, battery convenience, or vacuum-and-mulch collection. The manufacturer product page currently lists the model, but that does not establish a local dealer's stock or the status of an individual serial number. Before buying a new or used unit, confirm its serial-specific manual and applicable safety notices with ECHO or an authorized dealer.

For exact setup and service intervals, use the PB-2620 manual matching the unit's serial range. The current October 2023 edition covers P60012001001–P60012999999 and P60113001001–P60113999999; ECHO also retains an earlier May 2023 edition for P48915001001–P48915999999. Their core listed nozzle outputs and dry weights agree, but the serial range determines which manual applies.

ECHO PB-2620 product page · ECHO PB-2620 specifications · ECHO PB-2620 serial-range manuals