Husqvarna recalls 9,900 lawnmowers

<br>WASHINGTON (AP)_ The Husqvarna company is recalling 9,900 lawnmowers because the machines' blades could come loose and cause injury to users or bystanders. <br><br>The Husqvarna Forest and Garden

Wednesday, October 22nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP)_ The Husqvarna company is recalling 9,900 lawnmowers because the machines' blades could come loose and cause injury to users or bystanders.

The Husqvarna Forest and Garden Company, of Charlotte, N.C., has received 15 reports of the blades detaching, 41 reports of loose blades, and one report of a consumer being struck in the toe by a blade, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday. The defect is caused by a loose bolt.

Husqvarna is a division of the Electrolux Group.

The recalled walk-behind mowers have the model numbers Husqvarna Royal 53S or ROY53INTEK. They are gas-powered with an orange body and a black handle and can operate with or without a bag attachment. They have serial numbers between 24600001 and 31000205. The model and serial numbers are printed on a decal above the left rear wheel axle.

The mowers were manufactured in the United Kingdom and distributed by Husqvarna dealerships and Lowe's Home Improvement Centers between December 2002 and August 2003. They sold for about $500.

Consumers are urged to call Husqvarna technical representatives to request a free service kit, including a new blade adapter, blade bolt and related hardware, which can be installed by a Husqvarna dealer. Technical representatives can be reached at 1-800-448-7543, extension 3, Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT.