John Deere Consumer Products Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 200,000 Homelite® handheld power blowers/vacuums. The fuel line location can cause it to contact the edge of the engine shroud, causing the line to prematurely wear. This can result in a gasoline leak, presenting a fire hazard and causing burn injuries to consumers. John Deere Consumer Products has received two reports of the fuel line leaking from these power blowers/vacuums. These gasoline-powered, handheld power blowers/vacuums are red and black. The Homelite® logo is written on the inlet cover door. They can be identified by the following UT and serial numbers on a sticker attached to the unit near the blower tube:

UT08052, UT08052A, UT08052B, UT08052C, UT08057, UT08057A, UT08057B, UT08058, UT08058A, UT08058B, UT08059, UT08059A, UT08059B, UT08066, UT08066A, UT08066B, UT08067, UT08067A, UT08067C, UT08069, UT08069B, UT08070R, UT08071R, UT08076, UT08076A, UT08084, UT08085, UT08086, UT08089, UT08090, UT08091, UT08105, UT08107, UT08108

HT2130001 through HT3659999 HA0010001 through HA3659999
MA0010001 through MA3659999 MB0010001 through MB0459999

Home center and hardware stores including the Home Depot, Eagle Hardware and Ace Hardware, sold these blowers/vacuums nationwide from August 1998 through January 2000 for about $150.

Consumers should stop using these power blowers/vacuums immediately and contact their nearest Homelite® service dealer for a free inspection and repair. To locate the local service dealer or for more information, call John Deere Consumer Products at (800) 242-4672 anytime. John Deere Contact: Ray J. Hornak (919) 877-0877

John Deere Consumer Products Inc.
14401 Carowinds Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28273-4798
TEL: 704-588-3200