Snapper RER 28" Blade Failure

[ProfessorGT]

I am curious to find out if anyone has seen/experienced an unusual blade failure as follows:

The blade in question fractured from its two mounting holes outward in a V-shaped pattern, clockwise (direction of rotation) from its two mounting holes, outward?

There is absolutely no evidence that the blade hit anything, nor that it was loose. (There are no witness marks showing that the blade impacted anything, nor any witness marks showing that the blade was moving around on its mount, nor against the mounting bolts).

This was an OE Snapper #1-9515 blade used all season, last year. This year, (approx., one week ago) upon engagement of the blade at first use, the blade immediately exploded with a loud bang, heavily damaging the sides of the mowing deck. One V-shaped piece of the fractured blade was nowhere to be found, and there is evidence of rust along the fracture lines, which suggests that these failures occurred over a period of time, and then the blade finally let loose at this point of engagement.

The only damage found was to the blade itself and the mowing deck, and no one to my knowledge was injured. This could have gone horribly wrong, especially since the missing blade piece has thus far not turned up to have been a damaging/deadly projectile.

I believe I know the cause of this failure, but I'm wondering if anyone ever seen a Snapper RER blade fail like this before?

 

[/pine]

It seems fairly obvious that it shattered where it had previously been cracked...should not have been in use...

 

[ProfessorGT]

(/pine) I'd agree with you if in fact there were any cracks in the blade when it was mounted, year before last, but there were not. At that time I installed a new set of wings on this blade, after carefully inspecting it. (I did some horse trading for it as it was a new, unused OE piece, and my local Snapper dealer did not have anything but aftermarket blades in stock.) There were no evident defects in this new blade at that time.

 

[/pine]

(/pine) I'd agree with you if in fact there were any cracks in the blade when it was mounted, year before last, but there were not. At that time I installed a new set of wings on this blade, after carefully inspecting it. (I did some horse trading for it as it was a new, unused OE piece, and my local Snapper dealer did not have anything but aftermarket blades in stock.) There were no evident defects in this new blade at that time.

The cracks could have been invisible without magnification when installed or last inspected...if indeed there was never any impact that could have caused the original faults...I have to question the balance of the blade with the fins and metal fatigue...

FWIW...I have a Snapper 42" RER and will take a good look at the blades...hope others will chime in...

 

[/pine]

Prof...Cross posting is generally frowned upon but if you post this in "parts/repairs" it may get more eyeballs and thus replies...just a suggestion...