OPERATOR’S MANUAL
26cc MightyLite Backpack Blower
UT08580/UT08981
(ALL VERSIONS)
Your backpack blower has been engineered and manufactured to Homelite’s high standard for dependability, ease of
operation, and operator safety. When properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator’s manual before using
this product.
Thank you for buying a Homelite product.
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
General Safety Rules ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Specific Safety Rules ....................................................................................................................................................... 4
Symbols ........................................................................................................................................................................5-6
Features ........................................................................................................................................................................7-8
Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................................8-10
Operation ..................................................................................................................................................................10-12
Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................................. 13-14
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Warranty ...................................................................................................................................................................16-18
Parts Ordering / Service ................................................................................................................................................ 20
INTRODUCTION
This product has many features for making its use more pleasant and enjoyable. Safety, performance, and dependability
have been given top priority in the design of this product making it easy to maintain and operate.
Page 2
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING:
READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
Failure to follow all instructions listed below, may result
in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Do not allow children or untrained individuals to use this
unit.
Never start or run the engine inside a closed area;
breathing exhaust fumes can kill.
Wear eye protection which is marked to comply with ANSI
Z87.1 as well as hearing protection when operating this
product.
Keep all bystanders, children, and pets at least 50 ft.
away.
Wear heavy long pants, boots, and gloves. Do not wear
loose fitting clothing, short pants, jewelry of any kind, or
go barefoot.
To reduce the risk of injury associated with objects being
drawn into rotating parts, do not wear loose clothing,
scarves, neck chains, and the like.
Secure long hair so it is above shoulder level to prevent
entanglement in any rotating parts.
Do not operate this unit when you are tired, ill, or under
the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.
Do not operate in poor lighting.
Keep all parts of your body away from any moving parts
and all hot surfaces of the unit.
Wear a face filter mask in dusty conditions to reduce the
risk of injury associated with the inhalation of dust.
Check the work area before each use. Remove all objects
such as rocks, broken glass, nails, wire, or string which
can be thrown or become entangled in the machine.
Keep firm footing and balance. Do not overreach.
Overreaching can result in loss of balance or exposure
to hot surfaces.
Never operate the unit without a spark arrestor screen;
this screen is located inside the muffler.
Product users on United States Forest Service land,
and in some states, must comply with fire prevention
regulations. This product is equipped with a spark
arrestor; however, other user requirements may apply.
Check with the federal, state, or local authorities in your
area.
Before storing, allow the engine to cool.
Empty fuel tank and restrain the unit from moving before
transporting in a vehicle.
To reduce the risk of fire and burn injury, handle fuel with
care. It is highly flammable.
Do not smoke while handling fuel.
Mix and store fuel in a container approved for gasoline.
Mix fuel outdoors where there are no sparks or flames.
Select bare ground, stop engine, and allow to cool before
refueling.
Loosen fuel cap slowly to release pressure and to keep
fuel from escaping around the cap.
Tighten the fuel cap securely after refueling.
Wipe spilled fuel from the unit. Move 30 ft. away from
refueling site before starting engine.
Never attempt to burn off spilled fuel under any
circumstances.
Store fuel in a cool, well-ventilated area, safely away from
spark and/or flame-producing equipment.
Store fuel in containers specifically designed for this
purpose.
Only refuel outdoors and do not smoke while refueling.
Add fuel before starting the engine. Never remove the cap
of the fuel tank or add fuel while the engine is running or
when the engine is hot.
If fuel is spilled, do not attempt to start the engine but
move the machine away from the area of spillage and
avoid creating any source of ignition until fuel vapors
have dissipated.
Replace all fuel tank and container caps securely.
Use only identical manufacturer’s replacement parts and
accessories. Use of any other parts may create a hazard
or cause product damage.
Maintain the unit per maintenance instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.
Inspect the unit before each use for loose fasteners, fuel
leaks, etc. Replace damaged parts.
Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting, shut off the
engine and make certain all moving parts have stopped.
Disconnect the spark plug wire, and keep the wire away
from the plug to prevent starting.
Service on the blower must be performed by qualified
repair personnel only. Service or maintenance performed
by unqualified personnel could result in injury to the user
or damage to the product.
Use only identical replacement parts when servicing the
blower. Use of unauthorized parts may create a risk of
serious injury to the user, or damage to the product.
Page 3
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES
Always hold the control handle in your right hand. Refer
to the Operation section later in this manual for additional
instructions.
To reduce the risk of hearing loss associated with sound
level(s), hearing protection is required.
To reduce the risk of injury associated with contacting
rotating parts, stop the engine before installing or
removing attachments. Always disconnect the spark plug
before performing maintenance or accessing any movable
parts.
Do not point the blower nozzle in the direction of people
or pets.
Never run the unit without the proper equipment attached.
Always ensure the blower tubes are installed.
Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use
them to instruct others who may use this product. If you
loan someone this product, loan them these instructions
also.
Page 4
SYMBOLS
Some of the following symbols may be used on this product. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper
interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the product better and safer.
SYMBOL NAME EXPLANATION
Safety Alert Symbol Precautions that involve your safety.
Read the Operator’s Manual
Eye and Hearing Protection
Blower Tubes Do not operate without tubes in place.
Long Hair Risk of long hair being drawn into air inlet.
Loose Clothing Risk of loose clothing being drawn into air intake.
Gasoline and Lubricant
To reduce the risk of injury, user must read and understand
operator’s manual before using this product.
Wear eye protection which is marked to comply with ANSI
Z87.1 as well as hearing protection when operating this
equipment.
Use unleaded gasoline intended for motor vehicle use with
an octane rating of 87 [(R + M) / 2] or higher. This product is
powered by a 2-cycle engine and requires pre-mixing gasoline
and 2-cycle lubricant.
Page 5
SYMBOLS
The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product.
SYMBOL
SIGNAL MEANING
DANGER:
WARNING:
CAUTION:
CAUTION:
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will result
in death or serious injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could result
in death or serious injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, may result in
minor or moderate injury.
(Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates a situation that may result in property
damage.
SERVICE
Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge and should
be performed only by a qualified service technician. For
service we suggest you return the product to your nearest
AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER for repair. When servicing,
use only identical replacement parts.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, do not attempt
to use this product until you read thoroughly and
understand completely the operator’s manual. If you
do not understand the warnings and instructions in the
operator’s manual, do not use this product. Call Homelite
customer service for assistance.
WARNING:
The operation of any power tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your eyes, which can
result in severe eye damage. Before beginning power tool operation, always wear safety goggles or
safety glasses with side shields and, when needed, a full face shield. We recommend Wide Vision
Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses with side shields. Always use eye
protection which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Page 6