Recall: Simplicity Manufacturing Recall to Repair Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2004 Release # 04-183

Firm's Hotline: (800) 357-8244 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Simplicity Manufacturing Inc., Announce Recall to Repair Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Lawn Tractors and Riding Mowers

Units: 5,900

Manufacturer: Simplicity Manufacturing Inc., of Port Washington, Wis.

Hazard: A safety switch under the seat of these lawn tractors and riding mowers is designed to stop the mower blade turning within 5 seconds of the operator leaving the tractor seat. The recalled mowers' blades can continue to turn longer than 5 seconds after the operator leaves the seat, posing a laceration and amputation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: These lawn tractors and riding mowers, designed for non- commercial use, were sold under the Simplicity, AGCO and Massey Ferguson brand names. They include Regent/500/2500 Series lawn tractors, Coronet/2400 Series riding mowers, and Lancer/4400 Series riding mowers with the following model and serial numbers:

Regent/500/2500 Series:

Product Series	Model Number	Serial Number
Regent, 15-hp	1693911	09000-09439
Regent, 15-hp	1694321	09000-10015
Regent, 15-hp	1694314	00166-00334
Regent, 16-hp	1693915	09000-11368
Regent, 16-hp	1694200	09000-09120, 10000-10411
Regent, 16-hp	1694313	09000-09060, 10000-10001
Regent, 17-hp	1693918	09000-09050
515H, 15-hp	1694323	09000-09027
516H, 16-hp	1693935	09000-09034
2515H, 15-hp	1694325	09000-09011
2526H, 16-hp	1694343	09000-09025

Coronet/2400/RT Series:

Product Series	Model Number	Serial Number
Coronet, 13-hp	1694462	00001-00599
Coronet, 16-hp	1694463	00001-00346
Coronet, 13-hp	1694510	00001-00098
2413H, 13-hp	1694464	00001-00028

Lancer/4400 Series:

Product Series	Model Number	Serial Number
Lancer, 17-hp	1694292	02000-02016
4417, 17-hp	1694294	02000-02160

Sold at: Independent lawn mower dealers nationwide from June 2003 through May 2004 for between $2,000 and $3,750.

Manufactured in: U.S.A.

Remedy: Consumers should contact the dealership where the lawn tractor or riding mower was purchased to have a free replacement seat safety switch installed.

Consumer Contact: Call Simplicity at (800) 357-8244 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday visit the firm's Web site at www.simplicitymfg.com, or write to Simplicity Manufacturing, 500 N. Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074.