How to find the age of your Craftsman snowblower

Where to check the model and serial number on a snowblower

Start by locating the model and serial number label on your Craftsman snowblower. On most models, both numbers appear together on the same tag.

Common locations include:

• On the rear of the frame

• On the side of the auger housing

• Near the engine mounting area

The model number usually starts with three digits, followed by a decimal point and then five to eight more digits. Those first three digits determine which serial number format you’ll use to find the production date.

For model numbers beginning with 247

Craftsman snowblowers with model numbers starting with 247 typically use an 11-character serial number that includes both letters and numbers. The production date is encoded near the beginning of the serial number.

Focus on the first five characters.

How to decode this serial number type

Many serial numbers follow this pattern:

PMDDYxxxxx

• First character = product type

• Second character = month (letter)

• Third and fourth characters = day of the month

• Fifth character = year

The month is shown as a letter:

Example:

Serial number:

1F030xxxxxx

• F = June

• 03 = 3rd day of the month

• 0 = year ending in 0

This indicates June 3 in a year ending in 0, such as 2000 or 2010. Use the snowblower’s design, features, and labeling to determine which year fits.

Newer serial numbers (2021 and later)

Beginning in 2021, some products switched from a numeric year character to a letter-based year code.

• M = 2021

• N = 2022

• P = 2023

• Q = 2024

• R = 2025

If the year character is a letter instead of a number, the serial number was produced 2021 or later, and the year is no longer ambiguous.

If the date still isn’t clear

If the serial number doesn’t match the expected pattern, or the year could fall in more than one decade, use the engine manufacture date as a secondary reference.

If the model number begins with 536

Craftsman lawn and garden products with model numbers starting with 536 often use a serial number format where the production date is embedded in the first four digits.

Reading the serial number on these models

If the serial number begins with four digits, it may follow this pattern:

YDDDxxxx

• First digit = year (last digit of the year)

• Next three digits = day of the year

Example:

5123xxxx = 123rd day of a year ending in “5”

That could point to 1985, 1995, or 2005. Use the snowblower’s styling, controls, and labeling to determine which year makes sense.

Why the engine date is often a good reference

Because this format only shows the last digit of the year, confirming the decade takes judgment. The engine manufacture date usually provides the clearest clue, since engines are typically installed shortly before final assembly.

If your model number starts with 917

Craftsman lawn and garden products with model numbers starting with 917 don’t all use the same serial number format. The production date is encoded in different ways depending on when the unit was built, so the key is identifying how the serial number begins.

Compare your serial number to the formats below.

Ways the serial number may show the build date

Serial format: year and week

If the serial number starts with four digits, it may follow this pattern:

YYWWxxxxx

• First two digits = year

• Next two digits = week of manufacture

Example:

0423xxxxx = week 23 of 2004

Serial format: calendar date

Some products use a serial number that starts with six digits that look like a date:

MMDDYYxxxxx

• First two digits = month

• Next two digits = day

• Next two digits = year

Example:

061508xxxxx = June 15, 2008

Serial format: extended date format

Other products use a longer serial number format:

YYYYWWDxxxx

• First four digits = year

• Next two digits = week

• Next digit = day of the week

When the serial number doesn’t match a clear format

If the serial number doesn’t clearly fit one of these patterns, the engine manufacture date is often the most reliable way to estimate when the snowblower was built. In most cases, the engine is produced shortly before final assembly.

Sanity-check the production date

Once you’ve decoded the production date, take a moment to confirm it lines up with what you see on the snowblower.

Helpful cross-checks include:

• Whether the date fits the machine’s design and controls

• Whether the engine manufacture date comes before the estimated equipment date; less reliable if the engine was previously replaced

• Whether decals, safety markings, and features match that era

If something doesn’t add up, revisit the serial number format before settling on a final answer.