Gasoline Tanks For Some Lawn-Boy Lawn Mowers Recalled

PRODUCT: Certain Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers. (List of affected models follows.)

PROBLEM: The gas tanks on the mowers may split along the seams, leaking gasoline. The leaking gasoline presents a fire hazard.

WHAT TO DO: Mowers purchased after September 1, 1989 should have the tank replaced immediately. Those mowers purchased prior to September 1, 1989 should be regularly inspected for leaks and if a leak should actually occur, the tank should be replaced.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN, acting on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lawn-Boy, Inc., is voluntarily recalling gasoline tanks on some Lawn-Boy 1988 and 1989 model lawnmowers. The seams of the gas tanks may split, presenting a fire hazard from leaking gasoline.

The repair program includes the following eleven lawn mower models with serial numbers having the first four characters in the range F273-H241:

Customers owning one of the models listed above purchased since September 1, 1989 should contact their local Lawn-Boy service dealer to have the fuel tank replaced at no charge. Customers who have previously had their fuel tank replaced should disregard this notice.

Customers owning one of these models purchased before September 1, 1989 should inspect the mower for leaking gas at every use and not store the mower with the tank more than half full. If a leak is found, these customers should move the mower to an open area and arrange to return their mowers to a Lawn-Boy service dealer for a free tank replacement. Customers experiencing difficulties locating a service dealer can contact Lawn-Boy at 1-800-526-6937 for the location of a nearby dealer.

The Toro Company has received numerous reports of leaking tanks, and one fire. There have been no injuries reported. Toro implemented an inspection program in April, 1991 and over 26,000 tanks have been replaced to date on the affected models. Toro believes that most defective tanks on mowers purchased before September 1, 1989 have already leaked and been replaced.

Approximately 160,000 of the affected lawnmowers were sold nationwide from 1988 to the present by Lawn-Boy dealers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as a part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.