Stihl blower shock

[lefty]

I have a customer that has a Stihl BG55 handheld blower. I apologize that I do not have the numbers for the machine.

I recently replaced the carb and the on/off switch.

She called me today and said that she was using it and every time she touched anything metal she would get a pretty bad shock while using it. I initially thought static but she claims it's much worse and sustained.

She stated that she didn't notice a change in RPM during the event. The weather is around 50 degrees, 66% humidity with a dew point of 37 degrees. I haven't tried it myself yet. It was very windy out. I'm trying to think of what would cause this. Could it be a faulty on/off switch?

Thanks.

[bgsengine]

Static shock can be hella nasty and Blowers are notorious for it. You might try running a grounding wire like Echo does (It goes in through the blower tube and wire hangs loose, but bolts to engine ground) which resolves most static issues (it is built up in the blower tube and plastic housings are notorious for holding static charges. - I still regularly get a nasty zap getting out of our 2024 Bronco after a drive and stepping down to concrete or blacktop pavement and touching the door to close it. It can be seriously painful... so I usually hold on to something metal BEFORE I step out, but every now and then I still forget and get "bit") I have had 2 Echo blowers in for that before and both of them , the owner did some "maintenance" and threw out the static grounding wire - Once I replaced it and explained its purpose, the shocks stopped.

[lefty]

Thank you. I'm going to get my hands on it soon to try and experience it myself. I'll report back.

[KE4AVB]

And that blower is supposed already have an anti-static wire.

[bgsengine]

And that blower is supposed already have an anti-static wire.

So if it's missing or broken, there's the answer.