Looking for info on this gem we found

Found an old Sears 625 in the backyard of the house we bought this December. It's a model number 502 256090 with manufacture date of 8317226. It's still in pretty good shape. I'm looking for a date of manufacture that normal people can read and any documentation on it. I'm looking to get it into operable order so I can use it on my lawn this summer.

HI
YOU WILL NEED TO POST A PHOTO OR TWO SO WE CAN SEE THE MACHINE ACCORDING TO MY INFORMATION MODEL # 502-256090 SHOULD BE A 8-10 HP. CRAFTSMAN 30" CUT, NOT A SEARS SUBURBAN, COULD BE WRONG. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MOWER, WHAT BRAND OF MOTOR, KOW MANY SPEED, HOW RUSTY IS DECK, IF PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THEY WON'T BE CHEAP, DO A SURVEY BEFORE STARTING A PROJECT ALSO WILL NEED SOME MECHANICAL SKILLS. JUST ASK AND SOME ONE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
HAVE A GOOD ONE
JIMMY

The bottom has a decent amount of rust on it, but the steel isn't rusted through. The body is still in good shape. Haven't looked at the engine in depth, and the below picture of it is the best I have so far. I can try to get better ones tomorrow. I am short on funds so I won't be able to buy OEM parts, but I was hoping to get info on parts that might fit that are a bit newer/cheaper. Also, if anybody can translate the date of manufacture, that would be great. That is a big curiosity point for me.