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New_Yorker


Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary

Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219

What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Original Message   Jan 3, 2011 9:55 am
The Honda Power equipment Website has a menu that includes, "Recalls".  The following is from that site:

What is the problem?

Affected snowblowers may, over time, begin seeping fuel from the fuel tank joint O-ring, located on the

underside of the fuel tank. If the seepage becomes severe, fuel will begin to drip, increasing the risk of a fire.

What should you do?

Stop using any snowblower within the affected serial number range until the fuel tank joint and O-ring have been

replaced. Please contact a servicing Honda Power Equipment dealer to make an appointment to have your

snowblower repaired free of charge. If you need assistance locating a servicing dealer, please visit our website:

www.HondaPowerEquipment.com, or call us at our recall line (888) 888-3139.

, or call us at our recall line (888) 888-3139.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am gratified to see that HONDA makes such notifications on their website, and even potential buyers can see this alongside the new snowblower offerings.

Evidently some of the machines have developed a seepage or small leak in some cases.  We OWNERS of Honda Snowblowers are only told to STOP USING the machines IF our snowblower is within the serial number range of the affected machines, and then ONLY  IF & WHEN such a leak occurs.   Most people will probably not have such a leak, and can use the machine until it becomes convenient to have the dealer pick it up and repair the fuel tank seal. 

I am fortunate in having a machine with too new a serial number to be in the effected group.

Replies: 1 - 10 of 12NextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
Shryp


Location: Cleveland, OH
Joined: Jul 26, 2010
Points: 532

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #1   Jan 3, 2011 10:35 am
I think you should read that again.  I see no mention of "önly if it starts to leak".

It simply says if yours has that serial number stop using it.
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #2   Jan 3, 2011 10:43 am
Here's the actual recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Name of Product: Honda snowblowers

Units: About 18,500

Importer: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., of Torrance, Calif.

Hazard: The fuel tank joint and o-ring located on the underside of the fuel tank can seep or drip fuel over time, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Honda has received 90 reports of fuel either seeping or dripping. No fires have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Honda snowblowers with model numbers and frame serial numbers listed below. The snowblowers are red and black. The frame serial number is located on the rear of the machine just below the engine. The name Honda and the model number are located on the side of the front scoop.

Model Frame Serial Number
HS724 SZBE-1037913 through 1046577
HS928 SZAS-1151080 through 1169012
HS1132 SZBF-1018734 through 1025998


Sold at: Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide from April 2005 through November 2010 for between $2,000 and $3,400.

Manufactured in: Japan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snowblowers and contact any Honda Power Equipment dealer to arrange for a free fuel tank joint and o-ring replacement. Registered owners of the recalled snowblowers will be mailed a notice.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Honda at (888) 888-3139 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.hondapowerequipment.com


Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #3   Jan 3, 2011 2:00 pm
Thanks for the clarification FrankMA.  I too went to Honda's website to read the official recall letter.
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #4   Jan 3, 2011 2:39 pm
It's good that Honda is fixing it. The only thing that would concern me if I still owned my Honda would be how long will it take the dealer to fix it? Most dealers that sell Honda also sell snowmobiles and other things. I wonder how much of a priority they would put on actually fixing this problem? You could be seeing 2-3 weeks before you get your snowblower back. That's a lot of storms.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #5   Jan 3, 2011 3:01 pm
Steve_Cebu wrote:
It's good that Honda is fixing it. The only thing that would concern me if I still owned my Honda would be how long will it take the dealer to fix it? Most dealers that sell Honda also sell snowmobiles and other things. I wonder how much of a priority they would put on actually fixing this problem? You could be seeing 2-3 weeks before you get your snowblower back. That's a lot of storms.

I had mine scheduled for p/u this Thursday but decided that I would reschedule to a later date. The dealer told that he would be able to pick my unit up in a week and then would need to have it in his shop for another 1 - 2 weeks. He said he was swamped with repair work after the blizzard we had last week. I can't live without my 2 stage for that long during this time of the year so I'll wait until his schedule settles down a bit which he said would be in February. The dealer was somewhat baffled why Honda did not make the decision to do this type of warranty repair in the fall when people would not need to use their equipment. Probably the same management group that decides to not offer the higher end TCD models here in the states.....
This message was modified Jan 3, 2011 by FrankMA


Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #6   Jan 3, 2011 3:06 pm
Is there a time limit to get these recall / warranty work done?  Not that my is affected, but I can't risk having a snowblower out of commission for 2-3 weeks.  So is it possible to schedule the work done say in early spring?
This message was modified Jan 3, 2011 by aa335
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #7   Jan 3, 2011 3:15 pm
FrankMA wrote:
I had mine scheduled for p/u this Thursday but decided that I would reschedule to a later date. The dealer told that he would be able to pick my unit up in a week and then would need to have it in his shop for another 1 - 2 weeks. He said he was swamped with repair work after the blizzard we had last week. I can't live without my 2 stage for that long during this time of the year so I'll wait until his schedule settles down a bit which he said would be in February. The dealer was somewhat baffled why Honda did not make the decision to do this type of warranty repair in the fall when people would not need to use their equipment. Probably the same management group that decides to not offer the higher end TCD models here in the states.....



This is the problem with warranty recalls regardless of the company doing the recall. You lose your machine to the dealer and it's use for 2-3 weeks and what are you supposed to do in the meantime? The company will not compensate you forlost time which IMO they should. That would make them much more receptive to recalling these sooner and in the off season. They are happy to drag their feet and hope it goes away.

@aa335

If you send it in now you'd lose weeks of time and I do not think they can put a time limit on a recall. Many people might not even hear about this until it starts leaking. My dealer never contacts me for any reason not even for service reminders.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #8   Jan 3, 2011 7:24 pm
aa335 wrote:
Is there a time limit to get these recall / warranty work done?  Not that my is affected, but I can't risk having a snowblower out of commission for 2-3 weeks.  So is it possible to schedule the work done say in early spring?


I do not believe there is a time limit on a warranty repair but who knows these days? I may just wait until the springtime to have the repair done. If you do the math, less than 1/2 of 1% reported any type of problem so I don't feel a sense of urgency to get the repair completed. I will get it done but just cannot afford to be caught without a 2 stage snowblower at this time of the year. You do have to wonder why they (corporate Honda) would wait until the middle of prime snow clearing season to announce a recall like this???

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
New_Yorker


Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary

Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #9   Jan 4, 2011 10:26 am
Shryp wrote:
I think you should read that again.  I see no mention of "önly if it starts to leak".

It simply says if yours has that serial number stop using it
No one need stop operating the snowblower unless and until a leak becomes evident. So glad you asked that !  That is why the notice says, the affected snowblowers MAY, Over Time, begin to seep gas.    One need examine their machine and decide whether or not the problem yet exists on their snowblower.  For many that will not be the case.  Meanwhile everyone can call their honda dealer and have the machine repaired, probably before any gas seepage ever occurs.  That is also why the notice did not say That ALL AFFECTED Snowblowers WILL leak, and instead said the machines MAY leak gas.  Many MAY not !
This message was modified Jan 4, 2011 by New_Yorker
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: What the HONDA Recall actually says . . .
Reply #10   Jan 4, 2011 10:43 am
New_Yorker wrote:
The Honda Power equipment Website has a menu that includes, "Recalls".  The following is from that site:

What is the problem?

Affected snowblowers may, over time, begin seeping fuel from the fuel tank joint O-ring, located on the

underside of the fuel tank. If the seepage becomes severe, fuel will begin to drip, increasing the risk of a fire.

What should you do?

Stop using any snowblower within the affected serial number range until the fuel tank joint and O-ring have been

replaced. Please contact a servicing Honda Power Equipment dealer to make an appointment to have your

snowblower repaired free of charge. If you need assistance locating a servicing dealer, please visit our website:

www.HondaPowerEquipment.com, or call us at our recall line (888) 888-3139.

, or call us at our recall line (888) 888-3139.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am gratified to see that HONDA makes such notifications on their website, and even potential buyers can see this alongside the new snowblower offerings.

Evidently some of the machines have developed a seepage or small leak in some cases.  We OWNERS of Honda Snowblowers are only told to STOP USING the machines IF our snowblower is within the serial number range of the affected machines, and then ONLY  IF & WHEN such a leak occurs.   Most people will probably not have such a leak, and can use the machine until it becomes convenient to have the dealer pick it up and repair the fuel tank seal. 

I am fortunate in having a machine with too new a serial number to be in the effected group.


New_Yorker: It says to stop using those affected snowblowers in your original post from the Honda website.....
 

"Stop using any snowblower within the affected serial number range until the fuel tank joint and O-ring have been

replaced."

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
Replies: 1 - 10 of 12NextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
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