Lawn Mowers Recalled by Ariens Co.

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2001
Release # 01-106

Lawnmower Recall Hotline:(877) 740-7060
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058

CPSC, Ariens Co. Announce Recall of Lawn Mowers

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ariens Co., of Brillion, Wis., is recalling about 40,000 walk-behind lawn mowers sold under the Ariens, Scotts, and Husqvarna brand names. The piece attaching the blade to the mower can crack and break off. The broken piece or the blade can be propelled from underneath the mower, possibly injuring the operator or a bystander.

Ariens Co. has received four reports of the broken piece or detached blade being propelled from underneath the mower. One consumer was struck in the leg and received a bruise.

The recalled Ariens, Scotts, and Husqvarna rotary lawn mowers are walk- behind, 21-inch gas-powered mowers. The Ariens mower has an orange mower deck with black handlebars. The Husqvarna and Scotts mowers have an orange mower deck with gray handlebars. A label on the top of the deck area behind the engine of the mowers has the following model and serial numbers:

Model Number	Serial Number
Scotts model #907254	serial numbers 101 to 019124
Ariens model #911513	serial numbers 101 to 001242
Ariens model #911514	serial numbers 101 to 006616
Ariens model #911515	serial numbers 101 to 001445
Ariens model #911516	serial numbers 101 to 005105
Husqvarna model #601100020	serial numbers 101 to 003115
Husqvarna model #601100021	serial numbers 101 to 000720 and serial numbers 2301 to 002576
Husqvarna model#601100022	serial numbers 101 to 002797

Ariens and Husqvarna dealers, and department and home center stores, including Home Depot (which only sold the Scotts brand), sold these mowers nationwide from December 1999 through October 2000 for between $360 and $800.

Consumers should stop using these recalled mowers immediately and return them to an authorized dealer for free repair. To locate the nearest dealer or for more information, call Ariens toll-free at (877) 740-7060 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday. Consumers also can go to the Ariens web site at www.ariens.com/lawn_safety_recall/ or the Husqvarna web site at http://www.husqvarna.com/news/shl_news.htm.