August 8, 2002
Briggs & Stratton Announces Recall of Engines Used on Fun Kart Type Go-Karts

Briggs & Stratton Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 160,000 engines used on fun-karts. Fuel from the engine can spill out if the fun-kart overturns, posing serious fire and burn hazards to consumers. Briggs & Stratton has received nine reports of incidents involving fun-karts that overturned and caught fire, including four consumers who suffered burns.

The recalled engines are used only on fun-karts, which look and ride like go-karts, but are for personal use. The engine models included in the recall are:

5HP Model Series 1352XX

All Model Series 1352XX on fun-karts

FunPower Model Series 1362XX

Includes only 1362XX engines built on or before June 22, 1995 (950622XX). Example:

Model Type Date Code

136212 0615 A1 950622YB

- Has a 2" tall plastic fuel cap. The engines involved in this recall were manufactured in the United States.

Briggs & Stratton sold the engines between May 1992 and June 1995 to fun-kart manufacturers such as Avenger Inc., Bob’s Kart Shop, Brister Thunder Karts, Carter Brothers Manuf., Hamilton, Kartco Inc., Ken-Bar Manuf. Co., Manco Products Inc., T&D Metal Products Co., and U.S.A. Industries Inc. The engines were also sold separately to authorized distributors and dealers who may have resold them to consumers building homemade go-karts. Retail, specialty, and power equipment stores nationwide sold the fun-karts from 1992 through 1997 for between $600 and $2,000.

Consumers should stop using the fun-karts immediately and contact a local Briggs & Stratton dealer for a free engine repair. Consumers also can contact Briggs & Stratton at (800) 999-9444 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. or log on to the company’s website at http://www.briggsandstratton.com/MainSite.asp?CategoryID=%2D1&lrID=1&ParentID=0&MSCSSID=&MB=&EPAGE=/main/RealBriggs/WebSite/News/Press/20020808.1028811904000&l=0 to arrange for the free repair or to find a local dealer.