Hale Products Inc. (Hale) is recalling certain K Gearboxes manufactured December 20, 2014, to August 3, 2015. These gearboxes are used in fire apparatus to transfer engine power from driving a fire hose pump to turning the vehicle driveshaft. The affected gearboxes, sizes XK and LK, may shift out of gear from "road" to "neutral" while in the fire truck is in transit.
If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral on the way to attend a fire, the delay may hinder fire fighting efforts. Additionally, the loss of drive may increase the risk of a crash.
Hale will notify owners, and dealers will remove the gearbox and ship it to Hale to be remedied. Once repaired, it will be reinstalled. This work will be performed free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2015. Owners may contact Hale customer service at 1-800-533-3569. Hale's number for this recall is SB 129.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.