Lawn Mower and Tractor News, Recalls

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2002 -- Murray Inc. is voluntarily recalling about 89,500 rear-engine riding lawn mowers and about 6,200 mid-engine riding mowers. The fuel tank can crack and leak fuel, posing a burn or fire hazard to consumers.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC).

Murray has received 950 reports of fuel tanks leaking. These leaks resulted in six reports of fires including one report of minor burns.

Rear-Engine Riding Mowers

The recalled riding lawn mowers have 30" cutting decks. The mowers were sold under Murray, Murray Select, Craftsman and Wizard brand names. The brand name is printed on the front or side of the mowers. Model numbers can be found under the seat or on a nameplate on the rear of the mower. Models included in this recall include:

Department and hardware stores, including Sears, Western Auto and Home Depot, sold the riding mowers nationwide from January 1995 through January 2002 for between $700 and $1,200.

Mid-Engine Riding Mowers

The recalled mid-engine riding mowers have 30" cutting decks and the brand names "Murray" and "Yard King" printed on the front. A nameplate under the seat of the mower displays the model number. Models involved in this recall are 309005X10, 309304X8 and 309306X89.

Department and hardware stores including Home Depot and Western Auto, sold the mid-engine mowers nationwide from February 2001 through January 2002 for between $800 and $950.

Consumers should stop using these riding mowers immediately and contact their nearest Murray Service Dealer for a free replacement fuel tank. For more information, consumers should contact Murray toll-free at (800) 246-5896 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's web site at www.murray.com. Consumers with Craftsman rear-engine mowers should contact Sears toll-free at (800) 659-7026 anytime.

Automakers have begun turning out battery-powered vehicles for eco-friendly drivers, as well as those who hate spending money on gasoline. But it turns out lawn mower manufacturers are slightly ahead of them.

Electric lawnmowers are nothing new, but previous models all got their power through long extension cords that plugged into a wall outlet. Unless you had a postage-sized lawn, or a number of very long extension cords, they weren't very practical.

But the new generation of electric mowers are battery powered and untethered. Once their battery is fully charged, they can handle a good-sized lawn with plenty of power.

More volts usually better

Today's cordless electric mowers use NiCad or lead-acid batteries and can generate 18-36 volts of power. The larger the number of volts, the more mowing you can do between recharges. Most manufacturers say you should be able to mow a one-quarter- to one-third-acre lawn on a single charge.

Not only do the new batteries run longer, many can be recharged hundreds of times before they have to be replaced.

Consumers might be put off, since battery-powered vehicles are much more expensive than their gasoline-powered counterparts. However, battery-powered mowers are comparable in price to good gasoline mowers. Most major manufacturers now offer one or more battery models.

The Black & Decker 18-inch, 36-volt mower lists for $349.97 at Home Depot. The 14-inch, 24-volt Neutron C5, from DR Power, currently lists for $299.99 on the company's website.

Three features

When shopping for an electric mower, there are at least three features that you should keep in mind. The first is the battery. A larger, more powerful battery will be more expensive, but should allow you to cut more grass between charges.

You'll also need to decide whether you will buy a mower that you have to push or one that is self-propelled. You have the same choice when buying a gas-powered mower but with an electric, choosing a self-propelled model may require more frequent charging.

Just as with gas-powered mowers, you can select an electric model that will mulch the clippings. You can also buy a model that collects the clippings in a bag.

Is an electric mower right for you? It depends on the size of your lawn and to some extent, your values. In the past electric mowers were favored by consumers who wanted to create less pollution. With fuel prices as high as they are, many people buying them today are simply trying to save money.

According to a Yale University study, U.S. consumers use more than 600 million gallons of gasoline to mow and trim lawns every year. In the process, they spill about 17 million gallons. Is electric mowing cheaper?

A dime to recharge

According to DR Power, a manufacturer of both gasoline and electric-powered mowers, the cost of mowing is significantly reduced for homeowners who switch to electric mowing. The company says its Neuton Battery Electric Mowers cost just 10 cents to recharge, and a single charge is sufficient for mowing lawns up to one-third of an acre.

“Battery mowers are ideal for smaller lawns, where expected run times are lower and the grass is mowed more frequently,” said Joe Perrotto, President of Neuton Power Equipment. “Where battery mowers have a hard time is on acre-plus lawns or on off-lawn conditions which require a longer mowing time or more power to get the job done. For those jobs, it’s hard to beat gas power. Even with battery technology advancement, I doubt that battery mowers will overtake gas mower sales in my lifetime, but for the sake of our environment, I hope that they do.”

Electric mowers are also easier to maintain. The drop-in/lift-out battery design on most models makes "refueling" easier and push-button starting takes the strain off your arms and back.

Perhaps because of that, industry reports show sales of electric lawn care equipment are on the rise and project they will continue to account for a growing share of the country's lawn-care equipment sales.

While maintenance is easier with an electric mower, there is still maintenance. After each use the battery should be fully charged. When mowing, you shouldn't completely drain the battery before recharging, since that can significantly reduce storage capacity.

Electric mowers might not be right for every lawn. Perrotto says anything that puts more strain on the blade will cause the battery to drain faster. Long grass or certain types of tough grass can cause this to happen.

"Fortunately with removable batteries, the mower owner can quickly switch out to a fresh battery to continue mowing,” he said.

October 15, 2003

Honda is recalling about 30,000 Harmony Walk-Behind Lawnmowers because of a problem with the crankshaft.

If the lawnmower strikes an object with sufficient force, the crankshaft can bend. Vibration created by a bent crankshaft can eventually result in a fatigue failure of the Roto-stop blade brake control assembly. This can allow the cutting blade to continue rotating after the blade control lever is released, posing a risk of injury.

American Honda has received six reports of broken stop plates. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

The recalled models are Honda Harmony 21-inch, walk-behind mowers with model numbers HRB216TXA or HRB216HXA. The model numbers are located on a metal plate behind the engine, just in front of the rear discharge opening. These black and red mowers have "Honda Harmony" printed in white on the front.

The mowers were sold at power equipment dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from November 2000 through June 2003 for between $700 and $760.

Honda Lawn and Garden dealers will repair these mowers by replacing the Roto-stopTM mechanism.

To locate a servicing Honda Lawn and Garden dealer, consumers should call American Honda at (800) 426-7701 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to the Web site at www.hondapowerequipment.com.

The Toro Company of Bloomington, Minn., is recalling about 9,000 2015 TimeCutter riding mowers in the U.S. and Canada.

The fuel filters on the mowers can become brittle and fractured, allowing fuel to leak and posing a fire hazard.

The firm has reported five incidents of fuel leaking. No injuries have been reported.

The 2015 TimeCutter riding mowers are red and black, with a gray seat. “TORO” is printed on the front and sides of the mower. A black and white “TIMECUTTER” decal is located in front of the operator seat. The model number and serial number are located on a decal affixed to the frame, under the seat.

The following models are being recalled:

The mowers, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Home Depot and other hardware, lawn and garden stores nationwide from November 2014, through October 2015, for about $3,400.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled mowers and contact the nearest Toro dealer to schedule a free repair. Consumers with registered machines will receive a letter and a fuel filter, and may contact a Toro Dealer if they are uncomfortable with the replacement procedure.

Consumers may contact Toro toll-free at 844-521-2384 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at https://www.toro.com/en/product-safety-information/product-recall-information for more information.

American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, Calif., is recalling about 24,000 walk-behind 21” lawnmowers in the U.S. and Canada.

The engine stop switch can malfunction allowing the blade to continue to rotate after the handlebar blade control lever is released, posing a laceration hazard.

Honda has received 11 reports of the lawnmower’s blade continuing to rotate after the handlebar control lever was released. No injuries were reported.

This recall involves two Honda models and one Columbia brand electric start lawnmowers with Honda engines and 21” cutting blades. The Honda lawnmowers are red and silver (HRR) and red and gray (HRX). Both have “Honda” on the engine cover. The model and serial numbers are located on the certification label that is affixed to the cutter housing deck behind the engine. Honda recalled lawnmowers are: 

The Columbia brand lawnmower, model number 12ALD33Q897, comes in orange and black. “Honda” is printed on the engine cover. The Honda engine serial number is located on a label on the back of the engine. It is also stamped into the engine block adjacent to the oil filler cap/dipstick. A range of affected Honda engines installed in Columbia brand lawnmowers sold in the U.S. follows:

The Honda brand lawnmowers were sold at Honda Power Equipment dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from January 2013, through December 2013, for between $580 and $780.

Columbia brand lawnmowers were sold at Beaver Valley Supply, Denver, Colo; Lawn Equipment Parts Co, Inc., Marietta, Penn. and at Smiths South-Central Sales Co., Spring Hill, La. from January 2013, through December 2013, for $500.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawnmowers. Honda model owners should contact a Honda Power Equipment dealer to schedule a free repair. Columbia model owners should contact a Honda Engine dealer to schedule a free repair. American Honda is contacting all registered customers directly.

Consumers may contact American Honda toll-free at (888) 888-3139 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. For Columbia brand lawnmowers see www.engines.honda.com and click on Recalls/Updates.