Ever turn off a riding mower only to have it keep on going? Yeah, that would kinda stink… Well, due to faulty wiring, the Briggs & Stratton 40 V-Twin engine on certain riding lawn mowers branded and/ore resold by Sears, Husqvarna, and Bad Boy may continue to run even when the key is in the OFF position, or when the rider gets off the seat while the lawn mower is engaged. Great for stunt-riding… not so hot for mowing the grass.
Name of Product: Briggs & Stratton Model 40 V-Twin Engine
Units: About 50
Manufacturer: Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis.
Hazard: Wear on misrouted wiring may cause it to disconnect from the shut-off device, allowing the engine to continue running when the key is in the “OFF” position or when the operator gets off the seat while the mower is engaged, posing an injury hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported
Description: The recalled product is a Briggs & Stratton V-twin engine with the date code 100201Y. The engines can be found in the following lawn mowers: Craftsman, model 247:289810; Husqvarna, model 960460016; and Bad Boy, model BBM4826BS. The engine date code is bottom-most number located on the valve cover of the engine. The valve cover is located at the front of the engine near the oil dipstick.
Sold by: Sears, under the Craftsman brand; The Home Depot, under the Husqvarna brand; and Tractor Supply Company, under the Bad Boy brand. The mowers were sold in February 2010 and March 2010 for between $1,500 and $3,500.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the riding mowers and contact a Briggs & Stratton Authorized Dealer for free inspection and repair. Consumers with affected Craftsman and Husqvarna models were notified by letter from Sears and Briggs & Stratton. Tractor Supply Company has not notified the purchasers of the affected Bad Boy models.
Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Briggs & Stratton Corporation at (866) 927-3349 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.briggsandstratton.com/engines/support/contact
