So you have a snow blower with a Briggs & Stratton engine and you’re taking care of all your snow clearing duties with ease. Life is good. But maybe you need to do some routine maintenance, or you need to find the right replacement part if something happens. 

This guide is here to help you with all your questions about finding your engine model number, so you can get back to USING your snow blower

There are a variety of reasons why you might need to locate your snow blower engine number, including if you need replacement parts, want to download an owners manual, or do snow blower repair and maintenance. If you contact Briggs & Stratton (or an authorized dealer), you need to have your information handy so that you can get the correct service and information. 

The engine model number is usually a number stamped into metal directly on your engine. It may be stamped onto the left side of the overhead valve cover, the metal shield below the muffler, or the cylinder shield on the side of the engine. It also may be on a label by the starter, on the rewind housing to the left on the recoil. Keep a flashlight handy to help you locate the number. 

To learn more about locating your engine number, visit the Locate Your Engine Model Number page.

Curious about what all the numbers and letters in your engine model number mean? Believe it or not, they vary depending on whether you have a vintage classic Briggs & Stratton engine from before 1965, or if your small engine is from after 1965. (Of course, you are likely operating a snow blower with a post-1965 engine!) 

To learn more about what these various numbers mean, check out our guide to the Briggs & Stratton Numerical Designation System for Engine Models, and learn how you can determine most of the important mechanical features of the engine just by knowing your model number!

If you've located your engine model number on your snow blower and attempted to enter it online to find an owners manual or other parts, and the number is not recognized by the Briggs & Stratton website, you might not have entered it correctly.

To avoid common issues:

• Make sure you've included hyphens to separate the engine Model, Type, and Trim numbers, and that you have not just separated them with spaces – so it should follow a format like this: (XXXXXX-XXXX-XX).
• If the letters M, T, or C appears before the numbers stamped on your engine, do not – I repeat, do not – include these letters in the entry fields.

It’s also important to make sure that the numbers you find are taken from the engine itself and not the equipment made by other manufacturers. Check out our page on locating the correct engine model numbers for further information 

To keep your snow blower running its best, you should perform regular engine maintenance, including replacing parts. It’s easy to buy official Briggs & Stratton replacement parts online – once you have your engine model number! Having your correct model number ensures that you will be getting the right part for your small engine.  Check out this walkthrough for how to buy Briggs & Stratton parts online from the Director of the Briggs & Stratton Answer Center (and Briggs blogger), Dan Benischek.

Remember, if you have any questions, contact your local authorized Briggs & Stratton dealer, who will be able to provide you with assistance on any questions you may have.

You can also contact Briggs & Stratton Customer Support at any time, online or by phone, and find answers to all of your small engine questions. 

Now that you know how to find your snow blower engine model number, you’ll be able to tackle any issues that arise with confidence, and use your snow blower for years to come!