Original; see modified release: Weed Trimmer Heads With Metal Chains Recalled by Weed Wizard

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

This is the original of a document that has been modified. To see the modified version, click here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2000
Release # 00-104

Recall Hotline: (888) 810-7536
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
Weed Wizard Contact: Kevin McGrath, (212) 245-4577

CPSC, Weed Wizard Acquisition Corp. Announce Recall of Weed Trimmer Heads With Metal Chains

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Weed Wizard Acquisition Corp., of Bradley, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 2.7 million Weed Wizard trimmer heads with metal chains and about 857,000 trimmer replacement chain sets. The end link of the trimmer's metal chain can rapidly and unexpectedly detach during use, propelling the link into the air at a high velocity. If the metal link strikes the user or a bystander, it can penetrate skin and bone, causing injury or death.

Weed Wizard and CPSC have received 47 reports of metal links detaching from trimmers, resulting in 41injuries, including the death of a 3-year-old girl in Alabama who was struck in the head by a metal link. The injuries included users and bystanders being struck by metal links in the head, neck, legs, ankles and feet, resulting in penetration wounds and lacerations.

The Weed Wizard being recalled replaces the string trimmer head with a metal chain trimmer head on a gas-powered weed trimmer. Only Weed Wizard trimmer heads with metal chains are part of this recall. They were sold with white replacement heads and black chains, yellow heads with black chains or yellow heads with silver chains. There is no writing on the Weed Wizard trimmer heads, but the packaging reads "Weed Wizard", "The Solution to Trimmer Line Problems", "Fits 99% of All Gas Trimmers" and "MADE IN U.S.A."

Home centers, mass merchants, discount stores, hardware stores and television advertisements nationwide sold Weed Wizards with metal chains from May 1987 through April 2000 for between $19 and $25. The replacement chain kits were sold from January 1992 through April 2000 for about $8.

Consumers should stop using the Weed Wizards with metal chains immediately and contact the firm to obtain free plastic replacement blades and installation instructions. For a free replacement kit, call Weed Wizard toll-free at (888) 810-7536 anytime, or visit the firm's web site at www.weedwizard.com.

Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.