Where can I find brushes for my Toro electric leaf blower (model 51587)? I went to the Toro site and to Partstree.com, but they only sell the motor as a unit (which costs more than a new blower). A friend tells me I can buy any brushes for my electric leaf blower that are a little larger than the originals and just shave them down to fit, true or false?

If you're Toro electric blower is slowing down, throwing sparks, or not starting you may need to replace the carbon brushes. Replacing brushes and cleaning commutator early can prevent damage to motor armature!

Toro replacements are hard to find because Toro does not sell them and it is tricky to make you own.

There are Electric Motor replacement carbon brushes on E-bay for all three motor sizes (7 AMP, 10.5 AMP, and 12 AMP) of Toro Leaf Blowers (Toro Rake and Vac Super and Ultra Blower Vacuums)
Search E-bay for: "Toro Blower Carbon Brush"

- 12 Amp leaf blowers Toro Super (Old model 51552) through Toro Ultra (New model 51609).
- 10.5 Amp leaf blowers Toro Old through Toro New model 51573.
- 7 Amp leaf blowers Toro model 51586 and other Toro 7 amp blowers

True to an extent but not just any brushes, just be sure to find brushes with the same flex wiring connection and then shave away. You'll need to shave them into the original shape for the ends and length as well as the lateral dimensions, so the springs will fit right.

I had to do this for a Shop Vac, took a few weeks to locate some brushes that would work right with the springs and the wire connection once shaved.

The motor unit was all the OEM would sell, and for the price I could get a new unit. :) Don't you just love a disposable design ethic?