Hydro-Gear recall affects Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, MTD mowers

Got a Cub Cadet, MTD Gold, or Troy-Bilt lawn tractor? It could be part of the recall announced by the Consumer Products Safety Commission this week if you bought it between January 2011 and January 2012. The problem involves a faulty hydrostatic drive system that could cause the brakes to fail, posing a crash hazard.

The recall includes the Cub Cadet LTX 1045, 1046KW, 1046M, 1050KH, and 1050KW, and the SLTX 1050 and 1054; the MTD Gold Hydro; and the Troy-Bilt TB2450. Some 2,700 lawn tractors are affected in the U.S. and another 130 in Canada. A call to Hydro-Gear, an outside supplier that manufactures the drive system, confirmed that at least two other tractor brands in Europe are affected as well.

As the CPSC's recall notice details, a drive gear in the lawn tractor's hydrostatic transaxle, which is part of the transmission, can fail. According to Hydro-Gear, the problematic gear was part of a few batches that were improperly heat-treated by an outside supplier.

MTD, which makes Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt tractors along with the MTD versions, told us the broken gear would most likely lock up the transmission, simply causing the tractor to stop in its tracks. But because the brakes are part of the transaxle, said MTD, they could fail if the tractor is on a steep hill and a smooth surface.

None of the lawn tractors in Consumer Reports' testing program are affected by the recall. Nonetheless, we're highlighting the 46-inch Cub Cadet LTX 1045 13RX91AT and 50-inch Cub Cadet LT1050 13RQ11CP in our online Ratings, since similar models could have the faulty Hydro-Gear transmissions if sold from January 2011 through January 2012.

How to tell if your tractor has been recalled: Check the serial number beneath the seat and on the transaxle in back of the machine, following the four-step instructions on the CPSC recall notice. You can also call MTD and ask the company to look up the information on your specific model if you suspect it's included in the recall. (You can call 888-848-6038 Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern time.)

What to do if you tractor is on the list: Stop using the machine and call MTD's toll-free number, above. The company is also contacting owners and says it will pay to replace the transmission as well as to transport the tractor to and from an authorized service center.

Cub Cadet lawn tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

MTD Gold brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

Troy-Bilt brand tractors with the recalled transaxles are:

—Ed Perratore