Brave Products Reannounces Recall of Log Splitters; Additional Incidents Prompt Urgent Warning of Amputation Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Log Splitters

Units: About 8,000 units were recalled in July 2007; 4,000 additional units were recalled in February 2005

Manufacturer: Brave Products Inc., of Streator, Ill.

Hazard: The log splitter's hydraulic cylinders can have defective rod retention, causing the seals to leak and the rods to detach. This can result in serious injury to the operator, as the rod can rapidly and unexpectedly extend the splitting wedge.

Incidents/Injuries: Brave Products originally received 59 reports of leaking cylinders and/or rod retention failure. One consumer reported a hand amputation that could have been caused by this cylinder defect. There have been 26 additional reports of failure, including units previously thought to be unaffected by the earlier recalls. No new injuries have been reported.

Description: The log splitters are made of steel and painted orange and black, or blue and black. They have trailer hitches and rubber tires. Each log splitter has a decal on the side that reads "Brave Products, Inc." or "Iron & Oak" and "__ ton" (either 15, 22, 26, or 34). The following Brave Products or Iron & Oak models are included in the recall:

BRAVE LOG SPLITTER MODELS SERIAL NUMBER
34 ton-Model VH0234 & VH0634: S008277 through S030562
26 ton-Model VH9926 & VH0626: S006836 through S030558
22 ton-Model VH9922 & VH0622: S006691 through S030701
22 ton-Model SSR0622: S020721 through S029688
15 ton-Model HB0115: S013853 through S017534

IRON & OAK LOG SPLITTER MODELS SERIAL NUMBER
34 ton - Model BHVH3402 & BHVH3405: S008724 through S030442
26 ton - Model BHVH2699, BHVH2602 & Duro-Glide: S006847 through S030538
22 ton - Model BHVH2299, BHVH2202 & Duro-Glide: S006735 through S030547
22 ton - Model BHVH2299/BHVH2202FC & Duro-Glide: S013853 through S030537
30 ton - Model BHH3003: S008457 through S030439
30 ton - Model BHH2003: S006746 through S030491
15 ton - Model HBHH0115: S013853 through S017534
Tractor Mount - Model TMVH95/HYD, TMVH02/PTO, & TMVH03/HYD: S006645 through S029584

The serial number is located on the hydraulic tank.

Sold at: Ace, True Value, and Do It Best Hardware stores and independent power equipment dealers nationwide from January 2002 through April 2007 for between $900 and $2,000.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers, including those who contacted the firm after the previously announced recalls, should immediately stop using the recalled log splitters and contact the firm to receive a free replacement cylinder.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Brave Products at (800) 350-8739 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or write to: Brave Products Inc., P.O. Box 577, Streator, IL 61364-0577. Consumers also can visit the company's Web sites at www.logsplitters-ironoak.com (PDF), or www.braveproducts.com (PDF) .

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page