Vermeer Corporation
Environmental
Pella, IA 50219 USA
FIELD CAMPAIGN
SERVICE BULLETIN #
CAMPAIGN
TYPE:
CAMPAIGN
CATEGORY:

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

DATE:

24 February 2020

Mandatory – Product Safety
Bulletin Only
For your convenience, revisions are shown in gray highlight.

MACHINE /
ATTACHMENT
MODEL (S):

Serial Numbers
Wheel Part Numbers Included

Excluded

Tire/Wheel Assembly
Part Number

Wheel
Part Number

163647430

163647428

163647430
163647422
163647430
163647422

163647428
163647345
163647428
163647345

BC1800XL
(JSK01472 Only)
Replacement
Wheels Only

163647430

163647428

AX19

163647422

163647345

BC1000XL
BC1200XL
BC1500

Subject:

PRODUCT
SAFETY
RECALL
Pre-Campaign
Announcement

Kit Version

N/A
Certain
axle/wheel
configurations
– see page 2
for further
details

N/A
N/A

N/A

Supplier Wheel (Steel
Rim) Safety Defect –
Immediate HOLD and
DESTRUCTION of
Dealer Parts Inventory

US NHTSA SAFETY RECALL #20V085

Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S and/or other
countries. Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Page 1 of 6

Do not sell or use affected Brush Chippers in dealer
inventory.
Background:

What is the issue?
Beginning in August 2016 through early February 2020, specific wheels (steel rim)
with bolt pattern 8 on 6 ½ inch circle to be used with 5/8” studs provided by a supplier:
 have an incorrect lug nut contact area causing wheel lug nuts to loosen; and/or
 can develop possible cracks causing the tire to lose air pressure.
Both conditions may increase the risk of wheel loss and the risk of a crash. Death or
serious injury is possible. Property damage may also occur.
Defective Supplier Wheel
Improper Lug Nut Seat
and Potential Cracks
Identified by continuously raised lug nut surface

Interim
Solution:

Properly Manufactured Wheel
Correct Lug Nut Seat
Identified by raised surface only around lug nut
location

Dealer to place immediate HOLD on:
 Replacement wheels in dealer inventory and required wheel DESTRUCTION.
Check your parts inventory for affected wheel and/or tire/wheel assembly part
numbers shown above. The steel rim/wheel is the issue, not the tires.
 Selling Brush Chippers with the axle/wheel configurations shown below in dealer
inventory.
Check your wholegood inventory for affected brush chipper configurations shown
below. Do not sell any new/used brush chippers with these configurations. If an
affected brush chipper is on rent, contact the customer to advise them to check
torque and air pressure every day or at a minimum every 150 miles (250 km).
Immediately STOP sale of the wheels and/or tire/wheel assembly part numbers and
new/used brush chippers with the configurations shown below. Please be reminded
that it is a violation of US federal law, and other applicable similar laws, for you to sell
parts covered by this notification until this recall remedy has been released.
Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of law.
What brush chippers ‘as-manufactured’ configurations are affected?
Brush chippers affected were manufactured from approximately August 2016 – early
February 2020:
 BC1000XL (SN 023929 – 031550)
o ONLY 7000 lb (3175 kg) electric brake axle within manufacturing dates above
are affected by this product safety recall.
o 5200 lb (2360 kg) electric brake axle is NOT affected.
Page 2 of 6

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

24 February 2020





o 7000 lb (3175 kg) hydraulic brake axle is NOT affected.
BC1200XL (003023 – 003624; 004501 - 004520)
o All brush chippers within manufacturing dates above will be affected EXCEPT
those sold into the European Community equipped with Sales Code
BC1200XL088: Euro Trailer option (also included in Sales Code 2VP; 5VP).
BC1500 (SN 008316 – 010020; 011001 - 011055) and AX19 (SN 000101 –
000342):
o All brush chippers within manufacturing dates above will be affected by this
product safety recall.

Due to wheel supplier delivery variances, some brush chippers identified in the
“as-manufactured” SN ranges above may have been manufactured with Properly
Manufactured Wheel (right photo above). Our records do not contain sufficient data to
identify which wheels were installed on each machine. Through an abundance of
caution, we identified the SN ranges for when the Defective Supplier Wheel (left photo
above) may have been installed during manufacturing. Product Safety and
Engineering are currently preparing dealer instructions for inspection of the wheels
which will be posted to Dealer Center soon. In the meantime, if there are questions,
take photos of the wheel, along with Model/VIN, and email to:
productsafety@vermeer.com.
If a customer has a wheel failure prior to the release of the final field campaign kit
(ONLY FOR BRUSH CHIPPERS THAT HAVE FAILED WHEEL(S) before final
solution is available):
1. Order Assembly PN 163769457 as a temporary solution:
 BC1000XL (SN 017283 – 031550): Order quantity 1 (includes two
wheels/tires/lug nuts/clamp ring)
 BC1200XL:
o SN 000101 – 000377: Contact EV Service for assistance.
o SN 000378 – 003624 and 004501 - 004520: Order quantity 1 (includes two
wheels/tires/lug nuts/clamp ring)
 BC1500 (SN 001001 – 011055): Order quantity 1 (includes two
wheels/tires/lug nuts/clamp ring)
 BC1800XL with JSK1472 (SN 002381, 002382, 002409, 002801, 002839,
002842, 002978, 003217 - 003219): Tandem axles – 7000 lb (3175 kg)
electric brake axle, manufactured. Order quantity 2 (includes 4
wheels/tires/lug nuts/clamp ring).
 AX19 (SN 000101 – 000342): Order quantity 2 (includes 4 wheels/tires/lug
nuts/clamp rings).
This temporary solution will include parts required to replace all wheels and tires. The
tires in this temporary solution are 235/75R 17.5 non-flotation. We understand the
non-floatation tires may cause concerns, but this is the only wheel/tire combination
that could promptly be made available.
To order temporary solution you will be required to provide the Model/VIN of the brush
chipper that has a wheel failure.
DO NOT change or modify brush chippers which have the defective supplier
wheels/rims with a non-Vermeer approved part. Vermeer is evaluating a long-term
solution and PN 163769457 is the only short-term solution approved for use on these
affected brush chippers that have a wheel failure.

Page 3 of 6

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

24 February 2020

Prior to the mailing of interim owner notice mentioned below, advise customers who
are experiencing issues but who do NOT require temporary solution to check torque
and air pressure every day or at a minimum every 150 miles (250 km).
2. Complete the attached Brush Chipper Temporary Wheel Solution Installed
Tracking Form and return to Product Safety Department to identify the brush
chipper on which the temporary solution remedy has been installed so the owners
may be notified when the final field campaign remedy is released.
3. To request reimbursement for the defective wheels on a customer’s brush
chipper:
a. Submit a standard warranty claim using the customer’s Model and VIN.
b. Take photo(s) of the defective wheel(s) and attach to warranty claim.
c. If a local tire shop is used to remove the tires from the wheel, attach a copy
of the tire shop invoice for reimbursement.
d. Reference Service Bulletin SVC#2020-052.
e. 1 hr labor will be paid for each wheel replaced.
Vermeer Corporation is preparing Product Safety Interim Notices and Service Bulletin
for release in early March as follows:
1. Owners of certain BC1000XL, BC1200XL, BC1500 and AX19 brush chippers
‘as-manufactured’ between August 2016 and early February 2020 with
affected supplier defective wheels will be sent an interim notice to check lug nut
torque and tire pressure every day or at a minimum every 150 miles (250 km) until
Vermeer Corporation releases the field kit remedy.
2. Owners of brush chippers may have purchased defective replacement
supplier wheels:

BC1000XL (SN 017283 – 023928): manufactured from September 2011 –
August 2016.

BC1200XL (SN 000101 – 003022): manufactured from June 2009 – August
2016.

BC1500 (SN 001001 – 008315): manufactured from January 2007 – August
2016.

BC1800XL with JSK1472 (SN 002381, 002382, 002409, 002801, 002839,
002842, 002978, 003217 - 003219): manufactured from June 2008 – April
2012.
a.

Parts Center Distribution Center Sales Report. Product Safety will email a
report indicating the quantity/date/invoice # of replacement supplier defective
wheels sold to your dealership between August 2016 and February 2020
asking for your assistance to identify the owners to whom the replacement
wheels were sold. The owners you identify will be sent an interim notice to
check lug nut torque and tire pressure every day or at a minimum every 150
miles (250 km) until Vermeer Corporation identifies a field kit remedy.

b.

Owners not included in Item 2.a. will be sent an interim notice advising that IF
they purchased replacement wheels between August 2016 and February
2020, they may have defective supplier wheel(s). Photos will be provided in
this interim owner notice for the owners to inspect the wheels.

3. Service Bulletin will be posted with copies of the interim notices and instructions
for dealers.

Page 4 of 6

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

24 February 2020

A team is working diligently on identifying a field campaign kit remedy of parts
(wheel, lug nuts and tire) for the supplier defective wheels.

DESTROY wheel inventory and request reimbursement:
The supplier defective steel rim/wheels identified by part numbers above can never
be used or sold for any purpose. The wheels MUST be destroyed:
1. Remove the tire from the steel rim/wheel.
2. Torch cut the wheel(s) across the bead area and lug nut area.
3. Take photo(s) of the destroyed wheel(s).
4. Discard the lug nuts so they can never be used or sold for any purpose.
5. The removed new tires can be returned to your new parts inventory.
To request reimbursement for the defective wheels destroyed:
1. Submit a parts type warranty claim using EVPARTS as Model and 0000 in VIN.
2. Attach photo(s) of the destroyed wheel(s) to warranty claim.
3. If a local tire shop is used to remove the tires from the wheel, attach a copy of the
tire body shop invoice for reimbursement.
4. Reference Service Bulletin SVC#2020-052.
5. 1 hour labor will be paid for each wheel destroyed. Please add your labor hour to the
other charges tab for reimbursement.

We regret any inconvenience these corrective measures may cause you. This
required work is for safety of the crew, the towing vehicle occupants and others
traveling the public roadways. We hope you agree the safety benefits surpass the
inconvenience.

PRODUCT SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Attachment:
Brush Chipper Temporary Wheel Solution Installed Tracking Form

Completion Schedule:
Product Safety Alert: Install immediately
90 days from MM/DD/YYYY
180 days from MM/DD/YYYY
1 year from MM/DD/YYYY
Only Units within Standard Limited
Warranty Period
N/A
Internal Reference:
TREAD Act Code
(Choose one or
more codes
applicable)

-02
03
04
05
11

Reimbursement:
Product Safety Alert:
All Units Listed Above
Parts
Labor Paid (Labor Code: SB20)
Only Units within Standard Limited Warranty
Period
No Reimbursement

Not Applicable
Suspension
Service brake system, hydraulic
Service brake system, air
Parking brake
Electrical

12
16
17
19
20
21

Exterior lighting
Structure
Latch
Tires
Wheels
Trailer hitch

Page 5 of 6

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

24 February 2020

Models BC1000XL, BC1200XL, BC1500 and AX19
Brush Chippers Temporary Wheel Solution Installed

Tracking Form
To be completed only for Brush Chippers equipped with Temporary Wheel Solution*

due to Failed Wheel(s) – Reference: Service Bulletin SVC2020-052Rev1
After ordering and installing Assembly PN 163769457 as an interim wheel temporary remedy:
BC1000XL, BC1200XL, BC1500: quantity 1 (includes two wheels/tires)
AX19 and BC1800XL (JSK01472 Only – replacement wheels): quantity 2 (includes 4 wheels/tires)
on your customer’s brush chippers with the affected supplier defective wheels** (part numbers shown below),
complete the information below and return to Product Safety Department via email to:

productsafety@vermeer.com
When the final field campaign kit remedy is released, Product Safety Department will notify the owners who
have the temporary solution with a different owner letter notification.
Original Tire/Wheel Assembly
Part Number**
163647430

Original Wheel Part
Number**
163647428

BC1200XL

163647430
163647422

163647428
163647345

BC1500

163647430
163647422

163647428
163647345

163647422

163647345

163647430

163647428

Models
BC1000XL

AX19
BC1800XL
(JSK01472
Only)
Replacement
Wheels Only

INTERIM WHEEL TEMPORARY
REMEDY PART NUMBER*

Assembly PN 163769457

Interim Wheel Temporary Remedy Installed on:
Model:

VIN:

Owner:
Contact Name:
Company:
Address:
City, St, Postal Code,
Country:
Dealership:
Submitted By:

X

Dealership Name:
Dealer City, St, Postal
Code, Country:

Page 6 of 6

SVC2020-052 Rev. 1

24 February 2020