IMG SRC NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 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.