RYOBI power pruning and trimming tools, kind not given

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made May 16, 2014 · , sent to the company May 30, 2014 · , published by CPSC Jun 13, 2014

   The product, in the report: 2 ITEMS ITEM1: RY15122 EXPAND-IT POWERHEAD (ITEM WITH DEFECT) ITEM 2: RY15520 EXPAND-IT PRUNER ATTACHMENT (ITEM IN USE WHEN MALFUNCTION OCCURED)

   PROBLEM: Shaft retention safety collar screw on shaft of Ryobi power head model#RY15122 inadequate for retention of attachments. STORY: While operating above with approved 10” Ryobi polesaw attachment model#RY15520, threads on junk metal (looks like zinc coated die cast ?) shaft collar retaining bolt stripped and allowed for polesaw head to not only to twist from lock position but to dislodge and be torque launched from the locked position on unit and was a near miss to myself on its way back to the ground from a point in height of about 10 feet. Additionally, the screw was not the only failure here, as the pop button used to guide and keep attachments from rotating in powerhead shaft coupling while equipment is in operation also failed to retain attachment/stop attachment rotation, though I am certain this is if only a secondary safety assistance device. The head of polesaw attachment is undeniably similar in design, and functionality, and relative use, and relative danger, as to a chainsaw. If the same would have happened with the high torque tiller head from the same product line, (another interchangeable attachment i own as well for this power head unit), I could almost certainly be missing a foot, or leg, or worse, as the torque generated by the transmission is immense in comparison. What makes this situation worse is that the Home Depot, where this was purchased, does not offer or carry a replacement part in store or online, nor were either of the 2 Home Depot stores I visited willing to even offer a replacement item, even though in one store a like/type would have been available from display stock (im looking for a 3 inch screw, not the whole piece of equipment and i explained such clearly and with sample in hand). The Home Depot is claiming that since the powerhead and its attachments were purchased beyond 30 days (I purchased these as well as 3 other attachments approximately a year ago, all are still operable) that the entire unit assembly with an odd, oversize design weighing approximately 15 pounds, would need to be mailed out for repair at a potential additional cost. What bothers me most here is that this is a craftsmanship/workmanship/materials issue and especially in the case of a safety/related item, should have no associated cost whatsoever, to with respect to modification or abuse. MY REQUEST: Require same/similar to MILSPEC materials standards and/or to require use of spring steel or other similar material with the same/similar strength characteristics to be utilized in the future manufacture of all like/type equipment, as there should never be a materials failure of a safety item manufactured for use on a power tool.

   Model

   RY15122

   UPC

   UNKNOWN

   Serial number

   BMP1320056

   Bought from

   HOME DEPOT, Florida

   Bought

   May 15, 2013, about then

   Where

   davie, Florida: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 41, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand RYOBI, made or sold by One World Technologies, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources