What year is my lawn mower? Tips to estimate its age

Are you interested in knowing the age of your lawn mower? We have the expertise to help you estimate it. Our methods are straightforward and designed to give you accurate results. Let’s explore together!

From what year is my lawnmower? How can I estimate its age:

Check the serial number for the manufacturing date code. Inspect condition – rust, and wear indicate age. Sharpened blades and minor rust suggest 3-5 years old. Compare model and 6-11 digit serial numbers to new ones. Condition relative to new mower provides an estimate.

The Age of Discovery: Want to know the age of your lawn mower? Our article provides a step-by-step guide to help you. From checking the serial number to inspecting its condition, we’ve got all the tips you need. Dive in to discover more!

● Check the body’s condition.

The first thing to analyze is the mower’s body. As a helpful tip, use a grading system out of ten for the parts you check. For instance, examine the mower’s body kit, driving handle, seat, steering wheel, or platform.

Check for scratches, rust, and leather conditions and rate it on a scale of 10 from a neutral point of view by comparing it to the new version. If the score’s total is less than 70 percent, the mower is more than five years of age.

This is not an accurate but a suitable approximation method for an ordinary person. An expert will be better able to judge it much better.

● Check the lawn mower blades and oil tank.

Next, inspect the lawnmower blades. As a golden rule, sharpening the lawnmower blades after 30-40 hours is highly recommended because their overuse and roughness affect the whole machinery.

If you average 40-60 hours as an annual mowing average, the blades will have to be sharpened roughly 2-3 times in two years. Also, the blades should be sharpened 5-6 times. So, if you notice that the mower’s blades are new, you can imagine it to be more than 4-5 years old.

• Assessing the Condition of Lawn Mower Blades

They are under four years old if their surface seems scratched and the rest of the body seems fine. The oil tank also gives you an indication of how old your lawnmower is. Its external condition scratches on the tank, and the presence of rust will give away its age.

The gas tank’s cap is usually metallic, so if you notice minor rust around it, your mower will likely be three years old. If the rust is excessive and extends to the gas tank (metallic ones), it must be more than seven years of age. This is, again, a good estimation.

● Carburetor coding and condition.

Many mowers imprint A code on the carburetor’s body beside the throttle lever. It clearly defines the age of your mower. You have to be able to read and interpret it to estimate the mower’s age. Sturdier built than gas tanks, carburetors show no rust in the first five years of service life.

After that, you can judge the level of rust to calculate the mower’s age. Minor rust adds 1-2 years of life. Severe rusting means 3-4 years of life in the five years. Reading the carburetor’s code is similar to reading the engine’s code; it will be taught next.

● The Engine age and model coding for different lawnmower brands

The engines are built to resist factors like rust and moisture. You will have to open up the components to examine the condition of each.

Or, you can use the engine code imprinted on each engine. This is also known as motor code. We will teach you to locate and read this code for different lawnmower brands.

 1. Craftsman mowers:

Craftsman mowers have labels with serial numbers and dates imprinted on them. This tag is usually in a secure area on, beneath, or near the riding mower seat.

Just note down the first six numbers of the mower’s serial tag. The first two numbers are the mower’s manufacturing month, the second two numbers indicate the manufacturing day, and the third two will mark the year of manufacturing.

2. Murray lawnmowers:

On the Murray lawnmower, these stickers are found in the mower’s backside, under the riding lawn mower’s seat, or in the middle of the pushmower’s deck. Check each as the coding has changed over the years.

Note down the first four numerals to determine the Murray mower age. The first single number is the mower’s manufacturing year. The last three numbers indicate the manufacturing day of that specified year. For example, if the code is “3222,” the mower was produced in 2003 on the 222nd day of that year.

– Decoding the Model Number of Murray Lawnmowers

The date code could also indicate 1993 if the model is quite old. The coding style is specific for both cases. In the case of Murray lawnmowers, we have two kinds; pre-2001 mowers have a five-digit tag followed by a dash and a single-digit number.

The Post-2001 Murray models have a five- or six-digit model number with no dash/hyphen. If the model number is hyphenated, the date code, for example, will indicate 1993 rather than 2003.

3. John Deere Lawnmower:

For John Deere’s lawnmower, you must look at the bottom left-hand corner near the left tire to locate the identification serial number. A metal plate attached to the mower’s frame gives you the mower’s model and serial tag.

These stickers or labels may be under the hood or along the front side of older models. Note down your lawn mower’s model and serial number since both deliver the information needed to determine your lawn mower’s age.

Model numbers range from two to four numerals. In contrast, serial numbers range from six to 11 digits with a two-letter prefix, dependent on your lawn mower’s age.

4. Briggs and Stratton lawnmower:

Search for the serial tag on the Briggs and Stratton lawnmower. This sticker is found on the front of the mower engine directly above the spark plugs. Some of the latest models may lie between the overhead valve symbol and the air cleaner.

It may be stamped on the sheet metal above the muffler, either to the left or right side. The first two numbers are the mower’s manufacturing month, the second two numbers indicate the manufacturing day, and the third two will mark the year of manufacturing.

Tip: Place a paper sheet over the worn or unseen (by the naked eye) identification labels and rub with a pencil with a soft hand to take an imprint of the numbers. Use this tip if the numbers deteriorate with time.

Frequently asked questions:

1. What do you do with old parts of the lawnmower?  

Since the lawnmower is made of mostly metal and plastic parts, your old lawnmower can be recycled. Even the rubber tires and some tubing or cable sleeves can be taken to your local recycling center.

The best way to reuse lawn mower blades is to turn them into. This can be a knife for protection, chopping, or a simple backyard knife. You can use them for electrolysis purposes, too.

2. How do you find the model number on push lawnmowers?

The lawnmower model number is generally stamped into metal directly on your engine for push mowers. Some push lawnmower engines come with a cover or “hood.” So, you might have to remove them to see the code.

The code may also be present in other locations like beneath the sea and the engine or over some specially fitted metal plate. Check each place starting from the engine.

3. How long should a Craftsman riding mower last?

A typical Craftsman mower that’s well maintained will last 1500 hours plus. This, in other words, refers to the age of 15-20 years of service life. A riding mower that’s meticulously maintained will last 20-plus years, however.

Remarks

A lawn mower, such as a Murray riding lawnmower, is the secret behind most lawns’ beauty and aesthetic looks. However, it requires proper maintenance and cleaning to keep it in good shape.

As it ages, its work performance might be affected, too. If you want to sell or buy one, it is good to know the age of the mower. Also, finding suitable spare parts for Murray mowers can help to see the manufacturing year.

In this article, we have explained the methods of reading the serial code on the mower. The appropriate place for this is usually on the body of the mower. The year the mower was manufactured is the first digit in the serial code.

• Interpreting the Day of the Year from the Serial Code

This lets you out the year of your lawn mower or Murray lawnmower. The serial code typically consists of four digits. The first digit represents the year, while the remaining digits represent the day of the year. By checking this data, you can also indicate the mower’s age.

Besides, by checking the condition of different parts, you can also get an indication of the mower’s age. For instance, if the mower is hard to move, it might be time to move it to a more appropriate place for maintenance or cancel its use until it’s fixed.

Remember, knowing the year of the Murray tractor or mower is essential when buying or selling one. It’s also crucial to find the appropriate place for spare parts.