Woods fire-hazard recall: Kawasaki FH770D engine fuel filter (CPSC 13-040)

## Affected machines This bulletin covers the **Woods** portion of CPSC recall 13-040. Woods Equipment Company (now part of Blount International) primarily manufactures rotary cutters, finishing mowers, and tractor implements. Woods's portion of CPSC 13-040 is the smallest of any brand in the recall - only one engine model row in the CPSC table, covering approximately 170 units in the affected serial range. The recall is **engine-specific**, not mower-specific. Woods equipment in scope is that with the specific Kawasaki engine spec listed below, **manufactured October 2011 - August 2012**. ### Affected engine specs (Woods portion of CPSC 13-040 table) | Engine model | Spec | Serial range | |---|---|---| | FH770D | FS04 | FH770DA17828 - FH770DA17997 | The serial range covers only ~170 units (FH770DA17828 through FH770DA17997 inclusive) - this is by far the smallest per-brand scope of any of the 24 brands named in CPSC 13-040. ### Affected Woods models This bulletin attaches to representative Woods legacy zero-turn mower SKUs from the 2011-2013 production window: FZ23 and FZ28. Owners should match by engine model and serial number against Kawasaki's published list - not by mower model alone. Given the very narrow serial scope, most Woods owners will find their unit is NOT in scope even if the mower model number matches. ## Issue The **fuel filter** on the affected Kawasaki engines is a white translucent plastic VISU-brand filter that can become **brittle and crack**, allowing fuel to leak. Fuel leaking near a hot engine creates a fire hazard. Reported field incidents at time of recall (combined across all 24 affected brands): - 110 fuel-leak reports - 0 injuries ## What to do 1. Identify the engine model on top of your engine. Confirm it is an FH770D Kawasaki with spec FS04. 2. Check the engine's serial number against Kawasaki's published list at https://www.kawasakienginesusa.com/product-recall.html - the Woods serial range is FH770DA17828 through FH770DA17997. 3. If your engine is in scope, **stop using the mower immediately**. 4. Contact Kawasaki Motors USA toll-free at (866) 836-4463, or your local Woods dealer. 5. Free dealer repair (fuel filter replacement). ## Hazard Severity is rated **critical** because of the fire risk from a leaking fuel filter on a hot engine. ## Related bulletins CPSC 13-040 sibling bulletins: TNB02600050 (Ariens), TNB02600051 (Bad Boy), TNB02600052 (Bobcat), TNB02600053 (Cub Cadet), TNB02600054 (Exmark), TNB02600055 (Ferris), TNB02600056 (Husqvarna), TNB02600057 (SCAG), TNB02600058 (Toro), TNB02600059 (BigDog), TNB02600060 (Hustler), TNB02600066 (Gravely), TNB02600095 (Bush Hog), TNB02600096 (Country Clipper), TNB02600097 (Dixie Chopper), TNB02600098 (Dixon), TNB02600099 (DR Power), TNB02600100 (Encore), TNB02600101 (Land Pride), TNB02600102 (Simplicity), TNB02600103 (Snapper Pro), **TNB02600104** (this bulletin), TNB02600105 (Worldlawn). ## Source - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Kawasaki Motors Recalls Lawn Mower Engines Due to Fire Hazard," recall 13-040, November 15, 2012. - Kawasaki product recall page: https://www.kawasakienginesusa.com/product-recall.html