SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Structural / mechanical failure

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20110816-766D9-1196902. Matched catalog product: Craftsman 917-286450. Source model text: VT4000 (917.288570). Incident: The Front Lift Link (Part #195270 on the rotary mower deck of a Sears Craftsman VT4000 (917.288570) lawn and garden tractor broke at the point where a hole had been factory drilled through the Front Lift Link. This part is located below the tractor engine and thus cannot be seen by the operator during operation of the mower. A piece of this part subsequently fell to the ground and was hit by the rotary mower. There are at least five points of impact on the part from contact with the rotary mower blade. It did not leave the deck as projectile. If it had left as a projectile, it would have been dangerous to people and property. A washer on the piece remains missing. It may have fallen to the ground or may have left the mower deck as a projectile. Sears has replaced the part, but it has the same factory drilled hole as the original part. This hole is