Date Codes On Engines

[whizkidkyus]

I know that to tell the year of manufacture on Briggs Engines you look at the first two letters of the engine code , ( with the possible exception of real older models maybe ) . What I want to know is - How do you tell the date of manufacture on other engines , such as Techumesh , Robin , Honda , Kawasaki , and Kohler engines ? I know that they have model , type and serial numbers , etc. on them , but do they have codes as well on them that you can read and tell if you know how to decphier them ?

Whizkid

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

On Kohler engine you need the service manual that covers the engine and the engines serial number. I have the service manual for the K-series, KT series and and the Command series. They all have a serial number/date list. The only time this failed me was on a K-161 I have. The serial number DID NOT match the list in the manual. I finally E-mailed Kohler a picture of the engines data tag. They could not date the engine from the serial number. All they could tell me was from the spec.no. the engine was built in the late 50's. The serial number list in the K-series service manual starts in 1965.

Kent

 

[ldj]

With the B&S engine codes on the air shroud, I have found a number of them wrong because of air shrouds being changed. Not a reliable way to date the engine.

 

[breimer]

OK can you tell me more about dating a Briggs and Stratton? I have one that I would like to know the age. What letters mean what?