Product
Great Circle "SuperHandy" SuperHandy Chipper Shredder, model GUO019-FBA-TA
Category
Kitchen Appliance
Report number
20230304-3F990-2147349035
Ownership age
About 37 months to failure (from purchase date when reported)
Failure type
Fire / ignition
Incident narrative
SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20230304-3F990-2147349035. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Great Circle "SuperHandy" SuperHandy Chipper Shredder, model GUO019-FBA-TA (SuperHandy Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher Ultra Heavy Duty 7HP 3 in 1 Multi-Function 3" Inch Max Capacity. Color-orange. Gas powered. Amazon link: [REDACTED]. Model GUO019. Serial number J19404. Distributed by GreatCircleUS.com ph 866-493-0524, alt phone (909)781-6245.). Incident: I bought the Great Circle model GUO019 gas powered chipper/shredder in Jan 2020 from Amazon.com. It is a Chinese made unit with a 7 hp gas engine designed to chip up to 3" branches and shred lawn and landscape waste. It is distributed by a company in the US called Great Circle US. Today when I was using it, the muffler housing broke at the base of the muffler, the exhaust port shot flames out, caught the unit on fire and destroyed the air filter housing, the carburetor, the fuel line and shut off switch, the gas cap, the starter cord, and the spark plug wire, not to mention, the muffler, which caused the whole problem. The plastic parts ignited almost spontaneously and do not appear to have any flame retardancy at all. Notwithstanding, they are in very close proximity to the exhaust port and muffler. In fact, the fuel line runs right under the muffler. The unit was engulfed in flames in less than 1 minute. I have pictures and have retained the destroyed unit and all parts for a forensic investigation. Fortunately, I had a water hose nearby so I could extinguish the fire, else it would have exploded and caught the woods and perhaps myself or my house on fire. The metal where the exhaust manifold goes into the base of the muffler just cracked and the muffler and exhaust manifold separated. Other reviewers on Amazon have reported the same exhaust manifold/muffle failure. It has been stored inside and has never been wet until today, when I had to get the hose to put the fire out, so it is not rusted. I contend t
Official report number: 20230304-3F990-2147349035. Search that ID on SaferProducts.gov or match it in the CPSC public database export to verify this record.