Log Splitter Recalls: What Owners Should Check

Log splitter recalls what owners should check: the two best-known notices and how to check your own machine. A splitter is a hydraulic machine that can hurt you when a part fails. The two recalls owners most often ask about are the 2024 Oregon Tool recall of hydraulic cylinders and the 2021 Briggs & Stratton recall of splitters with 250cc engines. This guide explains what each covered, how to read your model number, and what to do if your splitter is on a recall list.

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Log splitter recalls at a glance

• Oregon Tool, April 25, 2024 (CPSC 24-208): The hydraulic cylinder rod can separate from the piston, so the wedge will not retract.
• Briggs & Stratton, May 12, 2021 (CPSC 21-133): An incorrect ignition coil and flywheel on 250cc engines can cause hard starting and engine kickback.
• What to do: Stop using a splitter that matches a recall, and contact the maker. Do not repair it yourself.

Both recalls were posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Recall details can change, so always read the current notice at cpsc.gov before you act.

Oregon Tool log splitter and cylinder recall (2024)

Oregon Tool recalled about 29,560 log splitters and cylinder kits in the U.S. and about 4,690 in Canada. The problem is that the hydraulic cylinder rod can separate from the piston. When that happens the wedge does not retract, and if the rod is reconnected, the rod and wedge can move forward suddenly. Oregon Tool received seven reports of the rod and wedge moving forward at an unexpectedly high speed. No injuries were reported.

The recall covers splitters sold under the Oregon, PowerPro, Country Tuff and SpeeCo brands at Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Company, other stores and online from July 2020 through December 2023. The notice lists these model numbers:

• Country Tuff: CT25TKO-1, CT25TKO-2, CT35TKO-1, CT35TKO-2
• Oregon: OR25TBS-1, OR30TBS-1, OR30TKO-1, OR30TKO-2, OR35TBS-1, OR35THO-1, OR35TKO-1, OR35TKO-2
• PowerPro: PP25TH0-1, PP25TK0-1, PP30TKO-1, PP35THO-1, PP35TKO-1
• SpeeCo: SP25TKO-1, SP30TKO-1, SP35TKO-1
• Cylinder kits: 622545, 622522, 622906

The remedy is a free replacement cylinder, installed by Oregon Tool or a dealer. If the wedge will not retract, stop using the splitter and do not attempt to fix it yourself. Oregon Tool can be reached at 833-948-2590 or [email protected], and lists the recall on oregontool.com/product-recalls/.

Briggs & Stratton engine recall (2021)

This recall covered about 19,630 log splitters in the U.S. and 362 in Canada, sold from March 2016 through February 2021. The hazard is an incorrect engine ignition coil and flywheel, which can cause hard starting and engine kickback and injure the operator. The company knew of two incidents with broken wrists.

The splitters affected carry Briggs & Stratton 250cc engines with model 15T232-0011-F8 or 15T232-1850-F1 and were sold under several brands, including Black Diamond, Crimson, Lumberjack, Performance Built, Brute, Country Pro, Boss (WD32T) and Oregon (3000 Series, 30 ton). Many were sold at farm and home stores such as Lowe’s, Menards, Rural King and Fleet Farm. The remedy is a free inspection and repair by an authorized Briggs & Stratton dealer. Contact Briggs & Stratton at 800-999-9444 or through briggsandstratton.com.

Why log splitter recalls what owners should check matter

A splitter pushes a log into a wedge with thousands of pounds of force, so a failed cylinder, a loose accessory or an engine that kicks back during starting is not a minor defect. Owners often never hear about a recall because they bought the machine from a farm store or secondhand and never registered it. A five-minute check each season is the simplest protection.

Other recalls on file

CPSC’s recall archive also lists older log splitter notices, including a 2018 SpeeCo recall of a 4-way wedge accessory that could loosen or detach in use, and earlier recalls of electric and hydraulic splitters and of engines used on splitters. They are a reminder that recalls cover parts, accessories and engines as well as complete machines.

How to check your splitter

1. Find the model plate. Look for a decal with brand, model and serial number on the frame or beam. Photograph it.
2. Find the engine model. The engine has its own plate or sticker. A recall can be about the engine rather than the splitter.
3. Search CPSC. Go to cpsc.gov/Recalls and search the brand and “log splitter”.
4. Compare the model number exactly with the list in the notice, including dashes and suffixes.
5. Contact the maker using the phone number or email in the notice, and ask for the remedy in writing.

The same steps work for saws; we cover them in a separate guide on how to check if your chainsaw or log splitter is recalled.

If you are buying a used splitter

Recalled equipment is often sold secondhand, and a recall does not follow a machine unless the new owner registers it. Get the brand, model and engine model from the seller before you pay, check them against CPSC, and ask whether a recall repair was done. A splitter whose recall has been remedied is fine; one with an open recall should be repaired first. We do not recommend any splitter with an open, unremedied recall.

Splitter safety while you wait for a repair

• Do not use a splitter that matches an open recall.
• One operator at a time, with hands clear of the wedge and the log.
• Wear eye protection, hearing protection with a gas engine, gloves and sturdy boots.
• Never move a log with your hands while the ram is moving, and never put a hand between the log and the wedge.

If you need to split in the meantime, a hand tool is a safe stand-in: see our best splitting mauls and best splitting wedges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was my log splitter recalled?

Check the brand, model and engine model on the plate against the CPSC notices. The Oregon Tool 2024 recall and the Briggs & Stratton 2021 recall list model numbers; if yours is not on a list, call the maker to be sure.

What is the Oregon log splitter recall about?

The hydraulic cylinder rod can separate from the piston, so the wedge does not retract. Reconnecting it can make the rod and wedge move forward suddenly.

Is the remedy a refund or a repair?

For the Oregon Tool recall, a free replacement cylinder. For the Briggs & Stratton recall, a free inspection and repair by an authorized dealer.

Can I fix a recalled splitter myself?

No. Both notices tell owners to contact the maker for the remedy, and Oregon Tool says not to attempt repairs yourself.

Should I buy a used splitter that was recalled?

Only if the recall repair was done and the seller can show it. Check the model on cpsc.gov first.

Related guides

Browse the log splitters hub, the best gas log splitters under $2,000 and the best log splitters for home use. To size a splitter, see how many tons you need. Also see our how to check if your chainsaw or log splitter is recalled.

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