If you are trying to use a Briggs and Stratton head gasket chart to find the right part, do not start with horsepower alone. Start with the engine series. Find the model code stamped on the blower housing, take the first six digits, and the Briggs and Stratton head gasket chart below hands you the answer. We covered the full range from small Quantum verticals to 27 HP V-twins, plus the sneaky pairs like 693997 versus 693397 that look identical on the shelf but seal very different engines.
Lookup by Engine Series
The first six digits of the model number point to the correct gasket family. Horsepower on the sticker is a rough guess at best, so rely on the series code.
| Series (first 6 digits) | Type | Common Models | HP | Gasket P/N | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120000, 121000, 122000 | Quantum vertical single | 120502, 124T02, 126T02 | 4–6.75 | 692249 | 1 |
| 170000, 190000, 192000, 193000 | L-head single | 170401, 192700, 193700 | 7–8 | 272163S | 1 |
| 210000, 212000, 214000, 215000 | Intek vertical single | 212707, 214707, 215802 | 13–15.5 | 273280S | 1 |
| 220400–286700 | Cast-iron sleeve horizontal | 221431, 252707, 283707 | 9–14 | 271866S | 1 |
| 319000, 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D | Intek vertical mid-size | 319775, 31A507, 31C707 | 13.5–17.5 | 796584 | 1 |
| 31F, 31M, 31P, 31R, 33M, 33R, 33S, 331 | Intek large AVS single | 31F777, 31R877, 331877 | 15–21 | 794114 | 1 |
| 400000–407000, 40F, 40G, 40H, 40R, 445000 | Intek V-twin | 40H777, 40R877, 445777 | 18–26 | 693997 | 2 |
| 490000, 499000, 49M, 49T, 49X | Large V-twin | 49M877, 49T877 | 23–27 | 796851 | 2 |
A few things to keep in mind before you put anything in your cart.
- The 400000 and 490000 V-twin families use two gaskets, one per cylinder. Get both at the same time, or you’ll be stuck waiting on a second order while the engine sits apart.
- Cast-iron horizontals from 220000 through 286700 mostly use the 271866S. Older Type codes from before 1995 sometimes used 270796 or 4125. For engines that old, pull the old gasket and measure the bore first.
- The 319000 and 31A through 31D families went through a mid-production update. 796584 now covers everything the older 699168 and 692410 used to fit.
Lookup by Specific Model Number
Already have the full model stamped on the shroud? Jump straight to this table. These are the engines that come across the parts counter most often.
| Model Number | HP | Gasket P/N | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09P702 | 3.5–5 | 799586 | 300E–575E compact |
| 110P02 | 3.5 | 796475 | Small-displacement |
| 10T502 | 5 | 272536 | Some lots use 698717 |
| 12H802, 124T02, 126T02 | 4.5–6.75 | 692249 | Quantum 120000 |
| 128M02 | 6.75 | 799875 | Part of 590508 set |
| 12S432 | 5 | 698210 | Some lots use 791716 |
| 135202 | 5 | 555236 | Not 272163 |
| 219907 | 11 | 273280S | 210000–215000 |
| 31G777 | 17 | 796584 | Mid-size Intek |
| 31R907 | 17.5 | 796187 | 31R variant |
| 33R877, 331877 | 19–20 | 794114 | Large AVS single |
| 40H777, 40N877 | 20–23 | 693997 | 400000 V-twin |
| 44L777, 446777 | 24 | 693997 | 440000 V-twin |
| 44P777 | 22 | 693397 | Not 693997 |
| 350447 | 18 | 410012 | Large cast-iron |
Take note of the 44P777 line. The correct number is 693397, not 693997—there’s a 3 in the middle. That one digit separates two cylinder head gaskets that look almost the same but seal different combustion chambers.
Compact engines on push mowers, generators, and small pressure washers run their own gasket families. The 09P series takes 799586, the 110P takes 796475, and the 128M takes 799875. None of these cross over to the bigger Intek verticals, even if the bolt pattern looks similar at a glance.
Two Pairs That Get Confused Often
The two gaskets fit the same general cylinder deck shape and are made on the same line, but you can’t use one in place of the other. Dropping the wrong one in costs you compression within a few hours of run time, or worse, a burned valve seat.
Here is how to tell them apart on the bench:
- 794114 has the number 33 stamped into the metal body
- 796584 has no stamp in that location
- The wide reinforcement tabs sit in different positions around the bore
- The oil return holes line up slightly differently
Own a 319000, 31A, 31B, 31C, or 31D Intek? You want the reliable 796584 cylinder head gasket. Own a 31F, 31M, 33M, 33R, 33S, or 331 with the Advanced Vibration System? You want the 794114 head gasket. Match the stamp to the engine family before you torque anything down.
693997 vs. 693397
It’s the same kind of mix-up, just different numbers. The durable 693997 V-twin gasket fits most 400000 and 440000 engines, including the 40H777, 44L777, and 445877. The 693397 gasket covers the 44P777 and a few related Type codes.
Both gaskets look similar in outline, but the combustion opening diameter and bolt spacing are different enough to cause weeping leaks right away. Always read all six digits when searching or ordering.
How to Confirm Before You Buy?
A Briggs and Stratton head gasket chart gets you most of the way. The last step is matching the full Model-Type-Code to the parts diagram for your exact engine. Work through this short list:
- Read the full code. Briggs stamps Model, Type, and Code on the engine, for example, 31R877-0054-G1. All three parts matter when there is a mid-year change.
- Count your cylinders. V-twins need two gaskets. One box in the mail means half a job.
- Buy new head bolts. Many Intek and Vanguard heads use torque-to-yield bolts. These stretch on the first install and should not be reused.
- Grab the companion gaskets. Once the head is off, swapping the 272475S rocker cover gasket and the 794152 valve gasket set adds maybe five minutes to the job.
- Clean, do not gouge. Plastic scrapers and a flat razor at a shallow angle. Scratches in the aluminum deck will leak faster than any defective gasket.
Watch for Batch Variation
A handful of series shifted part numbers partway through a production run without any change to the model code. The 31R000 line is the usual culprit. Mainstream 31R877 engines take the 794114 cylinder head gasket, but the 31R907 variant moved to the 796187 head gasket mid-run. The 12S432 Quantum has a similar split between 698210 and 791716 depending on build year.
If the old gasket hasn’t fallen apart, lay it flat beside the new one. Compare the combustion bore, the oil return holes, and the bolt spacing. Any mismatch bigger than a fingernail width means the wrong box arrived.
V-Twin Repair Tips
Twin-cylinder engines sometimes lose one gasket while the other side still holds pressure. Replace both anyway. The healthy side has run the same hours under the same heat cycles and will fail soon. Pulling the second head once the first is already off takes maybe twenty extra minutes. A set of two 693997 V-twin gaskets plus fresh head bolts turns a one-sided fix into a proper top-end refresh. For a complete rebuild, an overhaul gasket set covers the head, base, and all companion seals in one kit.
Torque Values to Remember
The right gasket only works if the bolts come down to the right spec. Common targets from the service manuals:
- Small L-head singles (90000, 100000, 120000): 140 in-lb
- Intek verticals (210000 through 330000): 160 to 220 in-lb depending on bolt length
- V-twins (400000, 440000, 490000): 200 to 220 in-lb in the stamped sequence
Always work in two or three passes. Follow the sequence cast into the head. Hitting final torque in one shot warps the aluminum and causes leaks no gasket can seal.
Final Thoughts
Three steps and you are done: pull the six-digit series, match the row, and lay the old gasket next to the new one before bolting things back together. At FridayParts, we keep a deep shelf of aftermarket gaskets, head bolts, and the small companion parts that fit Briggs engines, along with Kohler, Kawasaki, and most other small-engine brands, all priced for people who actually turn their own wrenches.
