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I removed the valve seal on this mower I was trying to fix and tore it in the process. No problem, replacement seals are cheap. I looked up the numbers online and according to every source I can find, I need part number 590534.

But I've ordered that part from two different places now, and both of them sent me a seal in a sealed genuine B&S parts bag, with the right part number on it, but the wrong seal in it!

I really don't know what to do at this point. Its almost August already and this lawnmower is still in a million pieces in my basement all because its waiting on this one stupid seal. What makes this process extra annoying is that MOST places that sell this part (ebay, parts websites, etc) don't include a real picture of the part. They used a B&S logo instead. So I have no idea what I'm ordering. BUT this time I went with the one site that DID include a photo.

^ THAT is the seal I need. Thats what my old seal looks like, thats the right part number, thats it. But I ordered it and this is what they sent me:


Is it me? Is that a newer seal and I'm just an idiot for not knowing how to install it? I can't see how, the new one has no flange at the bottom, and its a very different diameter. Here's a photo of the bottom of both valves. Its not me right? They're sending me a valve that can't possibly work with my engine?

Assuming they are sending me the wrong valve (I now have two identical wrong valves from two different websites), how do I get the right one? I tried contacting B&S directly but their official parts website is just a 3rd party that didn't know anything and couldn't help me.

This mower was supposed to be a quick and easy fix and flip for my youtube channel. Now its been like a year and a half and this thing just won't GET fixed. I had the valve on order from JacksSmallEngines for the last two months and the ship date kept getting pushed back so I cancelled and bought from snapper parts.

Does anyone have any ideas what I can do here?

I had similar challenges on a briggs horizontal shaft engine quite a few years ago, the engine used a flat valve seal, about the size of a quarter. Ordered the new seal and it was one similar to what you got, but there were instructions in the box stating they updated the part and new instructions to install it.
I would contact briggs directly about this.

Does the wrong part, fit your head?

no it does not fit

I've got a few of those engines in the junk pile... i could look and see if i could get one for you if you'd be good with a used one

Well I'd prefer new but that doesn't seem to be an option until B&S figures out their wrong part number problem SOOO yeah if you have one in good shape I might be interested.

some of those seals are not supposed to sit on the valve guide. They sit on the valve stem, go up and down, and act like an umbrella. One clue is the area where the valve stem passes thru the seal. Is it smooth and designed to allow the valve stem to slip up and down thru it after being pressed on the valve guide, or not. Some valves just use an o-ring. Some use nothing. I can't tell you what Briggs intended for that engine but the style of seal you have, old and new, may be a clue. If the original has a metal jacket, it is designed to press on the guide.

l008com said:

Well I'd prefer new but that doesn't seem to be an option until B&S figures out their wrong part number problem SOOO yeah if you have one in good shape I might be interested.

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Yanked the head off real quick, rubber was bad. I thought i had more but i just had one

the parts fiche shows two part numbers for valve seals on that engine based on the date code. The other one is dated later than your engine code but who knows, maybe the change date is incorrect or someone already replaced the head once on that unit. Look at this photo and compare. It is the other number https://www.ebay.com/itm/355654663159 B&S 84001271 . Both images below come up of that part number in a google search.

The second set of seals are the ones you are getting now, 590034. To be clear, the first two images are the later seal, and the third and fourth image are the early one. Although there are 4 images, all different, they only represent the two part numbers. All were displayed with Briggs packaging.

Seems like B&S got the two numbers mixed up.

Should be able to measure the boss where the seal sits. That and the valve stem diameter. Take those to an auto parts store.

At least put an umbrella type on there. Best is the positive style in the intake and umbrella on the ex.

Is that red junk even viton? Probably recycled bicycle tire material to save a buck.

Ok the most recent place that sold me the wrong seal just got back to me saying that the seal they sent is the "new design" for the same part. But I tried to install it and of course, its impossible. Theres nothing for it to install into because its a completely different part thats a completely different size and shape.

normally a valve seal sits over the guide, and it is pressed / tapped on with a tubular tool so not to damage it installing it. The umbrella style float on the valve stem and drip oil outside the guide top.

The saga continues. I bought one from Amazon that had a B&S logo without an actual photo of the seal, because I'm out of options here. I hoped I'd get lucky and it would be the right seal, but it was the wrong one.

Scrubcadet10 said:

I would contact briggs directly about this.

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How can I do this? I can't find any way to contact them, they only deflect to 3rd party "authorized" resellers.

sgkent said:

the parts fiche shows two part numbers for valve seals on that engine based on the date code. The other one is dated later than your engine code but who knows, maybe the change date is incorrect or someone already replaced the head once on that unit. Look at this photo and compare. It is the other number https://www.ebay.com/itm/355654663159 B&S 84001271 . Both images below come up of that part number in a google search.

The second set of seals are the ones you are getting now, 590034. To be clear, the first two images are the later seal, and the third and fourth image are the early one. Although there are 4 images, all different, they only represent the two part numbers. All were displayed with Briggs packaging.

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The 3rd and 4th pictures in your set of pictures are not the same seal. The 3rd one is what people keep sending me and the 4th one is actually what came out of my motor.

Double check your engine numbers. Something has to be off.

On some engines, I have to take a red oily shop rag and wipe the numbers.

One guy on here I think used latex paint. Showed up like an x-ray machine. Really see the proper numbers after this was done. Forgot who it was or I would of given him credit again.

That was me! With the paint! But those were numbers engraved in the metal cover of a yard vac motor. The numbers for this motor are printed on a label and are perfectly legible.

Also if you search for the part number, you will fine SOME sites that have the correct valve listed! But even those sites ship you the WRONG valve. So either B&S made a huge mistake and mis-labeled a whole run of valve seals. Or I'm a dummy and I'm not seeing how you install this valve in this engine.

l008com said:

That was me! With the paint! But those were numbers engraved in the metal over of a yard vac motor. The numbers for this motor are printed on a label and are perfectly legible.

Also if you search for the part number, you will fine SOME sites that have the correct valve listed! But even those sites ship you the WRONG valve. So either B&S made a huge mistake and mis-labeled a whole run of valve seals. Or I'm a dummy and I'm not seeing how you install this valve in this engine.

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What a country..... LOL Freaking genius with the paint.

Those numbers were so finely engraved that they were completely invisible to my naked eye, but alas:

if you are referring to the 4 pictures I posted, all were shown by the sellers in original B&S packaging and with the part numbers on the packaging. #3 and #4 both share the same part number. I don't know what to say but clearly from different suppliers to B&S. Have you tried the other part to see if it will fit? If not why?

Yes I tried to see if it will fit. Its a totally different part in a totally different shape so theres no way to even try to install it. Its like trying to install a square peg in a round hole.

l008com said:

How can I do this? I can't find any way to contact them, they only deflect to 3rd party "authorized" resellers.

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They used to have a number direct to tech support.. i'll look for it

UPDATE:

I contacted another random company online asking if they had a picture of the part they were selling with the number 590534. After going back and forth a bit and hearing my problem, he was able to contact briggs directly and get an answer. They messed up, all these seals are going out with the wrong number on the bag, and there are "correct" seals anywhere in their inventory.

The seals aren't really needed they say. Normally I'd probably just buy the whole valve kit to get one, he said the motor has slightly worse emissions without the seal. This is a mower I'm selling so I'm just going to reassemble with no seal and be done with it!

At least I know I'm not crazy!

Wow!
Glad you were able to get answers, and actually someone willing to help you.