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I just bought and old Snapper model # 30106S (81498). All the listings I've for this model say it has a 10 hp engine yet, the engine cowling tag says it is a model 287707-0225-01 14HP. Did Snapper ever put a 14HP on a model 30106S or has the engine been replaced with a 14HP or could the engine cowling be from a 14HP and put on a 10HP?

No, that engine is a replacement. The original 10HP would most likely have been a 251707. That being said, we were dealers then, and IIRC the 30 was only available in 8 or 11HP, but the 10 in the model # says it's a 10HP. Or, maybe it was available in the standard version mower, and the 11HP was only on the Xtra-Tough models. I'm looking back almost 40 years, so my memory could be a bit off.

Mow Joe said:

No, that engine is a replacement. The original 10HP would most likely have been a 251707. That being said, we were dealers then, and IIRC the 30 was only available in 8 or 11HP, but the 10 in the model # says it's a 10HP. I'm looking back almost 40 years, so my memory could be a bit off.

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Makes sense. Do you know if there is a model number stamp somewhere on a B&S motor other than the tag on the cover or some other way to ID a 10HP? I'm trying to determine it the engine cowling is OEM or if someone put a 14HP cowling on a 10 HP motor (I have no idea if it would fit, but the mounting bolts seem odd.)

The numbers would be on the cowling only. I don't think one from a 14HP would fit.

Mow Joe said:

The numbers would be on the cowling only. I don't think one from a 14HP would fit.

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Thanks.

Is the production year within the serial number of Snapper mower frame tag? Mine starts with 93, so is it a 1993 model?

The engine code (8 digit #) starts with 93, so can I assume the engine is a 1993 model?

To my knowledge, the year is not in the Snapper serial #. They went by series, and one series may have spanned 2-3 years. The series 6 was from 86-88ish. When I was in the business, the first two digits of the engine code# were the year the engine was built. I've been out of the business since 1995 and don't know if that is still the case.

The first digit of the Snapper serial number was the year. Your number starting with 9 would make it one of these years. 1969,1979, or 1989. Being a series 6 it has to be 1989. I think Snapper changed the code around 2000. When we were dealers back then. The standard deck 30" was one of our best sellers. Farmers loved them for knocking down tall weeds in the back 40 where they parked their farm equipment. I know we sold a very limited number with 10hp. They were not common. 8hp was pretty much the norm. Kinda wonder if there was a shortage of 8hp and some left the factory with 10's.

Way back when we had very few labour saving devices so naturally had plenty of spare time 8Hp was std for 24" to 30" decks on most ride on with gearboxes & mechanical PTO's
The 32" to 36" decks would have 10Hp and 12Hp went on the massive 40" to 48" decks
And that was pretty much across the board
Now days apparently 24Hp is not enough for a 32" cut any more

Mow Joe said:

The numbers would be on the cowling only. I don't think one from a 14HP would fit.

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yes it will, i have put up to 17hp inteks on them from troy builts, when i needed an engine, i just buy a murray or craftsman riding mower with bad deck and then take the 13 hp & 14hp engines off them to replace a bad engine for the snapper. any intek from 8hp up to 19hp will fit, mount, install, and work on the snapper but you will have to remove the fuel shut off solenoids from the carburetors on them which is a simple and easy thing to do.

keakar said:

yes it will, i have put up to 17hp inteks on them from troy builts, when i needed an engine, i just buy a murray or craftsman riding mower with bad deck and then take the 13 hp & 14hp engines off them to replace a bad engine for the snapper. any intek from 8hp up to 19hp will fit, mount, install, and work on the snapper but you will have to remove the fuel shut off solenoids from the carburetors on them which is a simple and easy thing to do.

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I was speaking of the engines from my era, pre 1995. The Intek came along after I was out of the mower business, and I haven't kept up.

Mow Joe said:

I was speaking of the engines from my era, pre 1995. The Intek came along after I was out of the mower business, and I haven't kept up.

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ya i mean its kinda crazy how they use such a weak wimpy engine on them now but all the newer turtle style mowers had these engines.

the older ones never had anything less then a 10hp on them

used to be 25" deck - 8hp, 28" deck - 10hp, 30" deck - 13hp

now its 28" deck gets that weak 10lbs torque engine and the 33" decks get the 11.5hp inteks

but they completely stopped making the 33" decks in like 2014 so it was almost exclusive they were 28" decks with 10lbs torque engines up to 2019 when they completely stopped making the rer snappers. B&S bought a great company and drove it off a cliff so the greatest small residential mowers ever made IMHO, is no more because they ruined them