Toro string trimmers and edgers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Aug 22, 2019 · , sent to the company Sep 17, 2019 · , published by CPSC Oct 1, 2019

   The product, in the report: Toro 51978 Gas Trimmer

   On 20 August 2019, my Toro 51978 Gas Trimmer had a metal fatigue failure that broke the upper shaft assembly, causing a loss of control of the trimmer head. The upper shaft and lower shaft assemblies provide the mechanical support for the engine and trimmer head, and these shaft assemblies also contain the driveshaft from the engine that drives the trimmer head.

   No injuries occurred.

   Model

   Toro 51978

   Serial number

   317030451

   Bought from

   Home Depot, Utah

   Bought

   May 24, 2017

   Where

   Heber City, Utah: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 58, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

2. No one hurt

   Made Oct 29, 2016 · , sent to the company Nov 7, 2016 · , published by CPSC Nov 22, 2016

   The product, in the report: Toro 2-Cycle 25.4cc Attachment Capable Curved Shaft Gas String Trimmer

   This is a Toro 51956 Gas String Trimmer. The engine head leaks gas when it is either hung for storage, or placed vertically on the ground.

   I bought this during late 2013. I had owned the trimmer and the engine head for a few months, and would usually store it flat on the ground. Later, I decided to hang it on a hook on my garage wall the following year. That’s when I noticed a strong smell of gas the following day. Upon examination, I noticed a puddle of the oil+gasoline mixture on the floor directly under the unit.

   I tried hanging it in different orientations, but it appeared to make no difference. Initially I thought that the gas cap may have been loose, but tightening it also made no difference. I tested it further by making sure that the level of gas in the tank was below the cap while it was hanging. The gas still leaked out from somewhere.

   The unit is used fairly rarely - maybe 5-6 times per year - and is used and stored with no possibility of damage to the unit, it’s gas tank, pipes, etc.

   I have decided to file this report because I see that an identical problem has been reported, yet no recall has been issued as per Toro’s website.

   Model

   51956

   Serial number

   312017583

   Bought from

   Home Depot

   Bought

   Sep 28, 2013

   Where

   Lisle, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 52, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

3. No one hurt

   Made Aug 24, 2015 · , sent to the company Sep 1, 2015 · , published by CPSC Sep 16, 2015

   The product, in the report: Toro Gas Blower/edger/[weed trimmer]

   Gas line leaks.

   Model

   51946

   Serial number

   312007373

   Where

   Roswell, Georgia: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

4. No one hurt

   Made Apr 10, 2015 · , sent to the company Apr 20, 2015 · , published by CPSC May 4, 2015

   The product, in the report: Product: Toro 17 inch String Trimmer. Purchased 10/07/13 at Home Depot Model no.: 51956 SN: 312000006

   Product: Toro 17 inch String Trimmer. Purchased 10/07/13 at Home Depot Model no.: 51956 SN: 312000006

   Problem: Unit developed a significant gas leak which was only detected after a short period of operation.

   The product had been hanging in an unheated garage over the winter in Denton, TX. It was hanging in such a manner as to be protected from damage.

   Upon using the string trimmer I noticed a gas leak because gas was being splashed on my legs. The trimmer had not shown any signs of leaking while it was hanging in the garage. It was hanging in the normal operating position with the gas cap pointing up.

   The gas leak is coming from one of the two small exit tubes located near the top of the gas tank. I determined this by cleaning all the gas residue off the surface of the tank, checking the o-ring seal on the gas cap for any foreign objects that might create a leak and starting to place a short strip of paper napkin next to any potential leak site (gas cap, exit tubes, seal between the two halves of the plastic tank).

   I inverted the machine so the gas cap was pointing down. I removed the air filter cover to have better access to the exit tubes. I started to place the paper napkin strips around the two exit tubes when I noticed a significant amount of gas leaking from the tank from around where the tubes penetrated the tank. I did not apply any pressure to the tank but simply allowed gravity (and internal vapor pressure) to work. The leak is significant.

   The reason the machine did not leak while hanging in the garage is the exit lines were above the level of the gas in the tank and the tank was upright. Had it been hanging upside down I am sure it would have leaked.

   There was no evidence of damage to either of the exit tubes. There was no indication they had been pulled or otherwise disturbed. The seal must be on the inside of the tank because there is no evidence of one when viewed from the exterior.

   The exit tubes are shielded from the body of the motor by a heavy paper (?) shield. The exhaust is directly below the leaking tubes but is also shielded by the paper barrier.

   The unit did not ignite while I was using it and I had no indication gas had been splashed on to any hot parts. The vibration and continual re-positioning of the machine while in use splattered gas droplets all over, however.

   Had I not been wearing shorts I would not have felt the gas falling on my leg and would have continued to use the trimmer since the motor is held behind you.

   Friday, April 10, 2015. I have determined the cause of the gas leak in this report. The exit gas tube from the trimmer gas tank is a “pressed fit” through the tank wall. The compressed tube is expected to be the seal. Over time (less than 2 years in this case) the tube hardens reducing the tube’s pressure on the hole in the tank. It no longer forms a seal. This was demonstrated to me when I took it in for repair.

   Model

   51956

   Serial number

   312000006

   Bought from

   Home Depot

   Bought

   Oct 7, 2013

   Where

   Denton, Texas: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 69, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

5. Seen by a doctor or nurse

   Made Sep 30, 2014 · , sent to the company Oct 8, 2014 · , published by CPSC Oct 23, 2014

   The product, in the report: Toro String Trimmer, red motor housing, silver shaft and trimmer

   While [weed trimming], the motor on my 2-year old Toro String Trimmer came off the shaft without warning and hit me on the upper side of my right leg. The motor housing appears to have been held on only by a single screw which either came loose or had not been tightened at the factory.

   It caused bruising, considerable pain and loss of sleep for 3 weeks. Two visits to doctor visits, blood test for possible blood clot, and prescription for pain reduction.

   Model

   Toro String Trimmer 51974

   Serial number

   310007754

   Bought from

   Home Depot

   Bought

   Mar 17, 2012

   Where

   Moscow, Idaho: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 71, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by Techtronic Industries North America, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

6. No one hurt

   Made May 5, 2014 · , sent to the company May 13, 2014 · , published by CPSC May 28, 2014

   The product, in the report: Gas powered trimmer (power head for interchangeable tools)

   The product in question is a gasoline powered weed trimmer (power head).

   I was preparing to use the unit for the first time this spring. It had been purged of fuel before storage in the fall. I poured fuel into the tank and it immediately dribbled out rapidly. The leak was very conspicuous so I did not attempt to operate the unit. No injury occurred.

   I am concerned that a less obvious leak would create a high risk of serious burn injury to an operator.

   When in use, the operator wears a supporting strap across his torso, over the left shoulder while the power head is held at his right side. Gasoline dripping from the unit could easily fall on the operators clothing. If an operator needed to separate himself from a burning unit he would have to first lift the strap over his head and toss the unit before dealing with any burning clothing. I would not want to be in that situation!

   After inspecting the unit to find the source of the leak I am concerned that this failure will be very common.

   Two small plastic gas line tubes enter the gas tank through a hole in the tank wall. An elastomer (rubber?) grommet fills the hole in the tank, sealing to the gas line tubing and to the wall of the tank. The seal is effected by compression of the grommet into the hole in the wall of the tank and by compression of the gas line tubes where they penetrate the grommet. Two failures occurred: 1. The gas line tubing compression set (shrank) where it meets the grommet. The lines were loose in the grommet. 2. The grommet shrank so that it is no longer compressed when seated in its hole in the tank wall.

   Conversations with the nearest authorized service shop suggest that it is not a novel failure and that the manufacturer associates the failure with the use of alcohol blended gas. The operator’s manual specifically allows the use of automotive 10% alcohol fuel. That‘s what I have used.

   I have used the unit in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. This failure occurred two years after the unit was placed in service.

   I think the failure I have observed will be common. It presents a significant risk of serious burn injury to the operator. It is a design defect (poor choice of materials for fuel system).

   Model

   Model 51944, 25.4 cc Gas Power Head

   Serial number

   310024100

   Bought from

   Home Depot, New Hampshire

   Bought

   May 29, 2012

   Where

   Madbury, New Hampshire: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unknown

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by Techtronic Industries North America, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

7. No one hurt

   Made Aug 13, 2012 · , sent to the company Aug 29, 2012 · , published by CPSC Sep 13, 2012

   The product, in the report: Toro 17” String Trimmer

   When I went to start my 4 month old Toro gasoline string trimmer, gasoline leaked all over the trimmer creating a very hazardous situation. I called the Toro support number and was directed to call the local repair facility (Lake Small Engine Repair, [REDACTED], Somerset, NJ 08873 - [REDACTED]. I was informed by the repair facility that fuel problems are usually not covered by the 3 year warranty that came with the trimmer & that I would have to give them $25 before they would even look at the machine. I explained to them that a rubber fuel hose broke off. They stated that this was a common occurrence and that the replacement part they used was not made from rubber, and was better able to resist the oil-gasoline fuel mixture. No injuries resulted from this incident, but much of the trimmer’s engine was covered in gasoline. I ended up replacing the fuel line myself. The replacement line was not rubber (it is either plastic or some type of poly material), and was designed for fuel being used in small engines. The cost of the line was $4.76.

   Model

   51954

   Serial number

   310051771

   Bought from

   IHome Depot, New Jersey

   Bought

   Mar 22, 2012

   Where

   Hilisborough, New Jersey: Unspecified

   Who was involved

   Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

8. No one hurt

   Made Jun 10, 2012 · , sent to the company Jun 22, 2012 · , published by CPSC Jul 9, 2012

   The product, in the report: Toro 11” [weed trimmer] model 51347

   I have a Toro Brand 11” electric [weed trimmer], model number 51347 and Is about 2 1/2 years old and is only used once a week at best. I have the proper gauge and length of outside rated power cord. I have taken good care of it and it was in outstanding condition. When I was weed [trimming] a few days ago, it began to start to run slower until it stopped and caught on fire at the end where the motor was located with flames coming out near where the string rotates.

   I sent an email to Toro and in return was sent a basic form type response. I will not buy any other Toro products because I do not feel they care about safety following this issue and their lack of meaningful response.

   Just want to make sure that no one else gets hurt by this product.

   Please let me know if it is OK to throw this away or not.

   Model

   51347

   Serial number

   311027854

   Bought from

   AAFES, Texas

   Bought

   May 1, 2009, about then

   Where

   Temple, Texas: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   Brand Toro, made or sold by The Toro Company

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources