Homelite® Handheld Power Blowers/Vacuums Recalled by John Deere

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2000
Release # 00-096

John Deere Recall Line: (800) 242-4672
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris, (301) 504-7066
John Deere Contact: Ray J. Hornak, (919) 877-0877

CPSC, John Deere Consumer Products Inc. Announce Recall of Homelite® Handheld Power Blowers/Vacuums

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), John Deere Consumer Products Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 200,000 Homelite® handheld power blowers/vacuums. The fuel line location can cause it to contact the edge of the engine shroud, causing the line to prematurely wear. This can result in a gasoline leak, presenting a fire hazard and causing burn injuries to consumers.

John Deere Consumer Products has received two reports of the fuel line leaking from these power blowers/vacuums. There have been no reports of fires or injuries.

These gasoline-powered, handheld power blowers/vacuums are red and black. The Homelite® logo is written on the inlet cover door. They can be identified by the following UT and serial numbers on a sticker attached to the unit near the blower tube:

UT numbers
UT08052	UT08052A	UT08052B	UT08052C	UT08057
UT08057A	UT08057B	UT08058	UT08058A	UT08058B
UT08059	UT08059A	UT08059B	UT08066	UT08066A
UT08066B	UT08067	UT08067A	UT08067C	UT08069
UT08069B	UT08070R	UT08071R	UT08076	UT08076A
UT08084	UT08085	UT08086	UT08089	UT08090
UT08091	UT08105	UT08107	UT08108

Serial numbers
HT2130001 through HT3659999	HA0010001 through HA3659999
MA0010001 through MA3659999	MB0010001 through MB0459999

Home center and hardware stores including the Home Depot, Eagle Hardware and Ace Hardware, sold these blowers/vacuums nationwide from August 1998 through January 2000 for about $150.

Consumers should stop using these power blowers/vacuums immediately and contact their nearest Homelite® service dealer for a free inspection and repair. To locate the local service dealer or for more information, call John Deere Consumer Products at (800) 242-4672 anytime.