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Rototillers, or garden tillers

CPSC Recall #84-030 - May 7, 1984

Recall Summary

Recall Number84-030
Recall DateMay 7, 1984
Remedy TypeNew Instructions, Repair

Product

Rototillers, or garden tillers

Description

 Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced new efforts by Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Roper Corporation to notify consumers of potential hazards associated with certain rototillers sold by them from 1963-1980. These tillers have a clutch locking button that allows the tiller to be locked in reverse. The firms have received over 20 reports of injuries, the most severe occurring when the tillers reportedly backed over users causing severe lacerations, fractures, or amputations to their legs.Sears will place posters at various locations in its stores to inform customers of a modification kit to eliminate the clutch locking mechanism. The free kit is easy to install and is designed to allow the consumer to operate the tiller without excess hand fatigue.The Sears effort is aimed at reaching additional consumers who have not yet received word that the kit is available. Last year, Sears and Roper Corporation, the manufacturer of the tillers, undertook an extensive public notice effort that included paid advertisements in national magazines and various farm and garden publications.A recall effectiveness study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that this notice effort had reached approximately 50 percent of the rototillers owners. The Commission has received a report that, during the past year, at least one additional consumer has been injured by one of the tillers, receiving lacerations to his leg.Consumers with model numbers beginning with the numbers 917 can call the Roper toll-free Hotline at 800-435-5117 (in Illinois call collect 1-815-937-68561), to find out if they have one of the tillers and get the free modification kit.Consumers may get information from the CPSC toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.

Hazard

These tillers have a clutch locking button that allows the tiller to be locked in reverse. The firms have received over 20 reports of injuries, the most severe occurring when the tillers reportedly backed over users causing severe lacerations, fractures, or amputations to their legs.

Incidents & Injuries

The firms have received over 20 reports of injuries, the most severe occurring when the tillers reportedly backed over users causing severe lacerations, fractures, or amputations to their legs.

Remedy Instructions

Sears will place posters at various locations in its stores to inform customers of a modification kit to eliminate the clutch locking mechanism. The free kit is easy to install and is designed to allow the consumer to operate the tiller without excess hand fatigue.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (New Instructions, Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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