B&S Vanguard VTwin Correct Head Gasket

[Piper724]

Hi there folks,
I am looking for some help to located the correct gasket for my engine.

The Engine is a 303447 0131-01 Type 3898
The date code is 90022211

The Briggs parts locater says this should be part number 807986 which I have.
While it's the same size and the majority is correct, there is one issue.
My engine has two bearing shafts on the Head Bolts which means the lower holes are larger than the upper ones.
The replacement part has all 4 holes the same size.

There has got to be some other Part Number associated with my machine ?
Two B&S Dealers in the area are completely stumped.

The original is in the middle, the B&S parts are on each side

 

[bertsmobile1]

Dremel type tool and carefully enlarge the holes
Most likely the difference between a Japanese made engine & a USA made engine

 

[Hammermechanicman]

I had one of these. Used the new style graphoil gasket and used a round gasket punch to make holes bigger. Worked fine

 

[ILENGINE]

I suspect that is due to the discontinued use of the guide pins starting on 09/11/90. Your engine was built 02/22/90. I suspect that you can eliminate the pins and install the gaskets without them. Do the head bolts match the hole diameters.

 

[Piper724]

I suspect that is due to the discontinued use of the guide pins starting on 09/11/90. Your engine was built 02/22/90. I suspect that you can eliminate the pins and install the gaskets without them. Do the head bolts match the hole diameters.

Hi there,
yes sir ! All 4 head bolts are the identical size.
I suspected that the two lower pins were there to located the gasket...

Are the pins threaded from below and turned into the hole ?
Just wondering what the process would look like to remove them ?

Thanks so much.

 

[Piper724]

I had one of these. Used the new style graphoil gasket and used a round gasket punch to make holes bigger. Worked fine

Hmm I thought about that too. Good to know that it worked. Did it last OK ? From a sealing perspective, I have to believe that the softer gasket would be better than a metal one ?

 

[ILENGINE]

Hi there,
yes sir ! All 4 head bolts are the identical size.
I suspected that the two lower pins were there to located the gasket...

Are the pins threaded from below and turned into the hole ?
Just wondering what the process would look like to remove them ?

Thanks so much.

Pliers and twist just pressed in with light pressure. They are basically a hollow tube about 1/2 inch long

 

[Piper724]

Pliers and twist just pressed in with light pressure. They are basically a hollow tube about 1/2 inch long

That's fantastic News !
Thanks so much for the information.

I can kick off my rebuild now.

 

[LMPPLUS]

B&S shows P/N-807986 for before 96 and P/N-806085S after 96.

 

[Piper724]

I did pop the two Brass guides out, super easy.

Thanks so much,
Now I have discovered that the Head Bolt Washers are not in the Engine Rebuilt klt.

I'll seek help for that in a new thread