Stihl BR 500 Exhaust Deflector service action

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the Stihl **BR 500** backpack blower (the quiet-series 64.8cc gas backpack blower). Stihl maintains a service-action page for an exhaust deflector replacement on the BR 500. ## Issue Stihl describes this as a **service action** rather than a CPSC-announced recall: dealers receive replacement exhaust deflectors which are installed on registered BR 500 units. The Stihl service-action page provides a serial-number entry form for owners and dealers to confirm scope; Stihl handles dealer parts ordering through that interface. ## What to do 1. Identify any Stihl BR 500 backpack blower. 2. Visit the live Stihl service-action page at https://www.stihlusa.com/safety/recalls/br-500-exhaust-deflector-service-action/ to enter the serial number and confirm whether the unit is in scope. 3. If in scope, take the unit to an authorized Stihl dealer for the free exhaust deflector replacement. 4. Contact Stihl Inc. at (800) 610-6677 with questions. ## Hazard Severity is rated **warning**. The defect mode and associated hazard published by Stihl for the exhaust-deflector service action are not at the fire-hazard or projectile-hazard severity level of the cut-off machine and fuel-system recalls in this batch. Owners should re-check the live Stihl service-action page for the current authoritative description of the hazard mode. ## Related bulletins The BR 500 also appears in the Toolless Fuel Cap recall (TNB02600106) for affected units up to SN 284053456. A BR 500 owner should check both this exhaust-deflector service action and TNB02600106's fuel-cap scope - they are separate remediation paths. ## Source - Stihl BR 500 Exhaust Deflector service action page: https://www.stihlusa.com/safety/recalls/br-500-exhaust-deflector-service-action/ - Stihl recalls index: https://www.stihlusa.com/safety/recalls/