STIHL SH 86 C-E review

More output and finer reduction, with more machine to carry

The U.S. STIHL SH 86 C-E, part 42410110939US, is a gasoline handheld shredder vac that converts to a blower. In vacuum mode it draws in dry leaves and other suitable loose material, shreds it and sends it to a catcher bag; in blower mode it uses a separate tube arrangement to move debris. It is a better technical fit than a blower-only tool when collection matters, but the extra mode means extra hardware and a different carrying burden. You cannot blow and vacuum at once.

STIHL’s exact U.S. page lists 12.3 pounds without refueling, 453.2 CFM in suction mode, an 11.9-gallon (about 45-liter) bag, and a 1:14 chaff ratio. Its official shared 2024 manual identifies SH 86 C-E by name and serial family, and lists a 27.2 cc, 0.8 kW two-stroke engine, 5.6 kg dry weight in vacuum mode, and 755 cubic meters per hour of round-nozzle blower airflow, approximately 444 CFM. The 453.2 CFM figure is suction-mode throughput; it is not the blower’s CFM. Likewise, the 1:14 reduction is a manufacturer-published ratio, not a guarantee that every leaf type or damp load will compress identically.

What distinguishes the SH 86 from SH 56

The SH 86’s main documented advantage is a stronger engine and more reduction in vacuum mode: 0.8 kW and 1:14 versus 0.7 kW and 1:10 on SH 56. It also has higher published airflow in both modes: approximately 444 CFM at the round blower nozzle versus 412 CFM for SH 56, and 453.2 versus 417.9 CFM on the product pages’ suction-airflow line. Both machines list 15 N of round-nozzle blowing force and use the same 45-liter bag capacity, so the larger engine should not be mistaken for a higher published force or a bigger bag. The exact SH 86 page describes a steel shredder, Easy2Start, variable throttle and stop control; the manual identifies its setting lever, while SH 56 uses a stop switch. Those are useful control differences for repeat starts and throttle management, not proof of higher real-world productivity.

The SH 86 is heavier: 12.3 pounds without refueling on the page, compared with 11.5 for SH 56. The manual’s 5.6 kg dry vacuum-mode figure is consistent with the rounded page value. This is still the tool in a stated basis, not an estimate of a fuel-filled unit with a full bag of leaves. Its 0.44-liter fuel tank is smaller than SH 56’s 0.54-liter tank, but tank capacity is not a runtime rating. If your priority is less time spent emptying chopped leaves, the higher published reduction ratio may matter; if you carry the tool throughout the cleanup, added dry mass may matter more.

Noise, fuel and debris limits

SH 86 C-E remains a conventional gasoline ownership plan. The manual specifies a 50:1 gasoline/two-stroke-oil mix, and STIHL recommends no more than 10 percent ethanol. Easy2Start reduces the effort required to pull the starter cord but does not remove the recoil-start routine, fueling, engine exhaust or maintenance. The manual’s sound-pressure figures are 90 dB(A) in blower mode and 93 dB(A) in suction mode. They are manufacturer test values, not a claim that the machine will be quiet at your ear or property line. Use the manual’s hearing and eye protection guidance and keep other people clear of the work zone.

Use the vacuum function for dry leaves and other lightweight, loose, noncombustible material the manual allows. Wet leaves can clog the suction system; stones, glass, hot ash, burning material and flammable liquids are not suitable vacuum loads. The vacuum attachment is not a universal cleanup solution, and an impressive reduction ratio does not change what can safely pass through the impeller. For large areas where collection is not necessary, a dedicated blower may be simpler to carry and maintain.

Which questionnaire choices should redirect you?

If collection is essential, select leaf vacuum/mulching and a bag-capacity minimum. A 45-liter requirement would technically describe the SH 86’s published bag, but this exact model’s safety status has not been individually established. It therefore remains reference-only and is excluded from purchase recommendations; that is not a recall finding and not a declaration that no recall exists. STIHL also marks the model unavailable for purchase or delivery in California. A gas-only plus bagged-collection brief consequently has no current eligible recommendation here. Do not treat the SH 86 as an accepted match just because its known specifications satisfy the numbers.

If 40 liters is adequate and battery power is acceptable, the eligible EGO LV5000 and LV5005 can be considered as alternatives. Both offer blower and bagged vacuum/mulching functions with a 40-liter collection bag; LV5000 is tool-only, while LV5005 includes one battery and a charger. Their power system, weight basis, bag volume and published performance differ, so the EGO profiles do not satisfy an essential gas or 45-liter requirement. If gasoline is essential, no battery alternative is valid; keep the no-match result and wait for an eligible exact configuration rather than weakening that need.

Who might still study this exact model?

As a technical reference, the SH 86 C-E is suited to a person comparing gasoline shredder vacs who values Easy2Start, variable control, the steel shredder and a stronger published reduction ratio, and can tolerate its added mass and mixed-fuel routine. It is less attractive when the operator wants the lightest handheld, a larger tank, a blower-only package, an included battery system, or verified purchase eligibility. Compare it with SH 56 around handling, engine output, 0.54- versus 0.44-liter tank, mode-specific air figures and 1:10 versus 1:14 reduction—not just a single CFM maximum. The source numbers describe different modes and test bases; they are not a controlled head-to-head yard trial.

Primary sources: STIHL’s exact SH 86 product page and the official 2024 BG 56/66/86 and SH 56/86 instruction manual.