I am finally able to followup on my post. HL was correct when he said cracked frame and brackets: not only the left frame weld failed but the stress broke the right frame rail as well just by the deck lifter brackets. I got a welder to join things back together realigned as closely as possible, and now the mower performs as it did before, which is a relief. I still await a frame rail repair kit, so I can return with confidence, just hope the manufacturer will proceed with heavier frame material and only frame perforations actually needed, in future. I measured the frame rail thickness at 2.5 mm thick, which is barely 12 guage (about 1/16th inch).
Gord, your comment is noted, but I used a Poulan with a 19.5 hp Briggs for 15 years on that farm, and only repaired the usual Briggs compression release, head gasket, and magneto issues on the engine. Otherwise, a lawn tractor would be useless for my use, and the hills are not overly long, so I will take the chance, thanks. The sumps appear to be sufficiently deep on Briggs, unlike what I hear about the Loncin Chinese engine.
Gord, your comment is noted, but I used a Poulan with a 19.5 hp Briggs for 15 years on that farm, and only repaired the usual Briggs compression release, head gasket, and magneto issues on the engine. Otherwise, a lawn tractor would be useless for my use, and the hills are not overly long, so I will take the chance, thanks. The sumps appear to be sufficiently deep on Briggs, unlike what I hear about the Loncin Chinese engine.