CPSC, Hydro-Gear Recall Hydrostatic MTD Manufactured Lawn Tractors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 13 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Lawn Tractors

Units: About 2,700

Manufacturer: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership, of Sullivan, Ill.

Hazard: A drive gear in the lawn tractor's hydrostatic transaxle can fail causing brake failure, posing a crash hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Cub Cadet, MTD Gold and Troy-Bilt lawn tractors sold with Hydro-Gear model 618-0319 and 618-04270B transaxles. Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt tractors included in this recall have dates of manufacture (DOM) ranging from December 2010 through March 2011. The DOM can be found on a label on the underside of the seat. MTD Gold can be identified by serial numbers starting with 1L15 or 1L16. Affected transaxles have serial numbers with the first four digits ranging between 0333 and 0348. Transaxle model and serial numbers are printed on a label on the transaxle.

Cub Cadet lawn tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand	Mower Type	Mower Model No.	Hydro-Gear Transaxle Part No.	Transaxle Serial No. (1st four digits)
Cub Cadet	LTX 1045	13WX91AT010 13WX91AT056	618-0319	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	LTX 1046KW	13WG91AT010	618-0319	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	LTX 1046M	13WP91AT009	618-0319	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	LTX 1050KH	13WQ91AP009	618-0319	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	LTX 1050KW	13WF91AP010 13WF91AP056	618-0319	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	SLTX 1050	13WQ92AP010	618-04270B	0333 thru 0348
Cub Cadet	SLTX 1054	13WK92AK009 13WK92AK010 13WK92AK056	618-04270B	0333 thru 0348

MTD Gold brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand	Mower Type	Mower Model No.	Hydro-Gear Transaxle Part No.	Transaxle Serial No. (1st four digits)
MTD Gold	Hydro	13AP925P004	618-04270B	0333 thru 0348

Troy-Bilt brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Mower Brand	Mower Type	Mower Model No.	Hydro-Gear Transaxle Part No.	Transaxle Serial No. (1st four digits)
Troy-Bilt	TB2450	13WQ92KP066	618-04270B	0333 thru 0348

Sold by: Lawn and garden retailers nationwide from January 2011 through January 2012 for about between $1,900 and $2,800.

Manufactured in: U.S.A.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lawn tractors and contact the firm for instructions on obtaining a repair from an authorized service provider.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact the firm's toll-free at (888) 848-6038 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firms' websites at www.cubcadet.com, www.troybilt.com or www.MTDproducts.com. Consumers can also visit Hydro-Gear's website at www.hydro-gear.com