Finding the right parts... your path to success.

Finding the correct parts for your outdoor equipment sounds easy.  But, it can actually be more difficult than you believe.  Let's take a lawn mower, for example.  You may be looking for an engine part for your lawn mower;  Or you may be looking for a body part for your lawn mower.  Like automobiles, the internal and external parts may vary depending on the year the item was manufactured.  This is why serial numbers are so important to certain brands.  Want to know how to look up and order the correct parts for your equipment?  Read on to get the full scoop!

Keep It Clean

Parts Look Up

Looking up parts for outdoor equipment can be somewhat confusing at times.  The hard part about ordering the CORRECT part for your outdoor power equipment is determining if the issue is with your equipment engine, or the equipment itself.  I know, you're probably thinking, well what's the difference,  So, I'm going to attempt to break this down for you in the easiest manner.

In the following example we will be discussing riding lawn tractors.  But, the information at hand applies to much more than just riding lawn tractors.  It applies to almost all outdoor power equipment. Especially used power equipment since the engine could have been swapped out for a substitution in the past.  

Equipment

So, you have a riding lawn mower and you notice upon inspection that your deck belt has snapped.  It happens to be the belt which turns the blades.  This belt has nothing to do with the engine.  Your engine still starts, and runs perfectly fine.  This is an issue with your equipment.  When it comes to riding lawn mowers (or riding lawn tractors) belts, blades and other parts that are not directly connected to the engine are not considered engine parts.  So you need to locate the model number of your equipment.  


The Confusion  

Here's where people often get confused.   You see your lawn mower is a Troy-Bilt riding mower, but when you lift the hood you notice the Briggs & Stratton Engine.  Well, since this issue is not caused by the engine, you'll want to go with the name that is more than likely branded on the side of your equipment.  This model number will have the brands name (Troy-Bilt, in this case) will be above or near your model number.  This is the model number you will want to use to look up parts for your equipment and not it's engine.  Besides belts this can include blades, cables, springs (depending on locations) and many other things.  If the item is not directly related to you engine it is a part of the equipment.


Engine Problems

Engine issues are much more simpler to discover. Starts, but won't run?  That's obviously an engine problem. If your equipment has a difficult time starting or running, this is obviously caused by a problem with your engine!  In this case you need the model number which is usually stamped into the metal of your engine.  Briggs & Stratton uses a model, type and code.  In order to find the correct information you absolutely will need the model, type and code.  You should always tune up your equipment before using it for another season!...Always!


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