| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Ken Giles |
| April 8, 1997 |
(301) 504-7052 |
| Release # 97-098 |
| |
CPSC and Husqvarna Announce Recall of Chain Saws
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Husqvarna Forest & Garden Co. of Charlotte, N.C., is recalling about 277,000 chain saws. Heat from the saw's muffler can melt the saw's front hand guard if the removable exhaust deflector is not attached properly. The hand guard is designed to prevent contact with the chain and can manually activate the chain brake during a kickback. A damaged hand guard exposes consumers to a risk of injury from the chain.
Husqvarna has received one report of a death in Canada and one report of a serious hand injury after the base of the saw's hand guard melted.
The recalled chain saws include the Husqvarna models 42, 51, 55, 242, and 254 with serial numbers beginning with 531 and below. The recalled saws also include models 61 and 257 with serial numbers beginning with 324 and below. The chain saws are orange and have the Husqvarna name printed on both sides of the motor. The model number is printed on the left side of the motor and on the serial number plate on the left front of the motor. The hand guard is made of black, gray, or orange plastic.
Authorized Husqvarna dealers nationwide sold the chain saws from 1990 through 1995 for about $400 to $600.
Consumers should immediately stop using the chain saws and return them to the nearest authorized Husqvarna dealer for a free replacement muffler, which has a welded deflector. Husqvarna will also replace any hand guards that show signs of heat damage. For additional information, consumers should call Husqvarna at (800) 438-7297.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.