STIHL Recalls 2.3 Million Tools
Ethanol and other fuel additives can distort the toolless fuel caps, potentially causing fuel to spill, with a resulting fire risk.
STIHL Inc. has voluntarily recalled about 2.3 million tools -- gas-powered trimmers, brushcutters, KombiMotors, hedge trimmers, edgers, clearing saws, pole pruners, and backpack blowers -- that have a toolless fuel cap because ethanol and other fuel additives can distort the cap, potentially causing a fuel spill and a fire risk.
Both STIHL, which is based in Virginia Beach, Va., and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall. Owners should stop using them immediately and should return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for a free repair. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product, the commission notes.
CPSC said STIHL has received 81 reports of difficulty installing and/or removing the fuel caps and fuel spillage, but no injuries have been reported.
The tools and their model and serial numbers that are included in the recall are:
Blower, backpack
BR 500 | Up to 284053456
BR 550 | Up to 284053456
BR 600 | Up to 284053456
BR 600 | Magnum Up to 284053456
Hedge Trimmer, extended reach
HL 90K | Up to 284101483
HL 100 | Up to 284101483
HL 100 | K Up to 284101483
Pole Pruner
HT 56 C-E | Up to 284398635
HT 100 | Up to 284097165
HT 101 | Up to 284097165
HT 130 | Up to 284097165
HT 131 | Up to 284097165
Edger
FC 56 C-E | Up to 284180999
FC 70 C-E | Up to 284180999
FC 90 | Up to 284012099
FC 95 | Up to 284012099
FC 100 | Up to 284012099
FC 110 | Up to 284012099
Trimmer/Brushcutter
FS 40 C-E | Up to 284180999
FS 56 C-E | Up to 284180999
FS 56 RC-E | Up to 284180999
FS 70 RC-E | Up to 284180999
FS 90 | Up to 284012099
FS 90 R | Up to 284012099
FS 100 RX | Up to 284012099
FS 110 | Up to 284012099
FS 110 R | Up to 284012099
FS 110 RX | Up to 284012099
FS 130 | Up to 284012099
FS 130 R | Up to 284012099
Clearing Saw
FS 310 | Up to 284012099
KombiEngine
KM 56 RC-E | Up to 284180999
KM 90 R | Up to 284012099
KM 110 R | Up to 284012099
KM 130 R | Up to 284012099
They were made in the United States and were sold at authorized STIHL dealers nationwide from July 2002 through May 2011 for between $190 and $650.
For more information, contact STIHL at 800-233-4729 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time weekdays or e-mail [email protected].