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Had to change the head gasket on my 22hp craftsman rider engine model #407777. These fell out without me seeing them I'm thinking they are seals that fit on the engine end of the pushrods but would like to hear for sure before I reassemble it. Cant find any diagrams online that show them. See pics. Thanks steve

valve stem seals fit over thhe top of the valve guides.

Hmmm shouldn't fell out of the cylinder heads so I think the OP brought some after market gasket kit. BTW one of the seals look defective.

ccrider2420 said:

Had to change the head gasket on my 22hp craftsman rider engine model #407777. These fell out without me seeing them I'm thinking they are seals that fit on the engine end of the pushrods but would like to hear for sure before I reassemble it. Cant find any diagrams online that show them. See pics. Thanks steve

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Thanks for the reply, so I pulled the head to replace the gasket but I didn't remove the valves from the head so not sure how valve seals could have fallen out. Still looks like the hole the engine side of the pushrods is the same size as the seals. Can't believe no engine diagram shows them.

Post the type number for the 407777.

But is an example from one the 100 407777 engine ipls. Item 868 is only used on the intake valve guide. And are under the valve springs so you have disassemble the valve system to get them to even fall out; otherwise, if they were installed there is no way they can fall out.

StarTech said:

Post the type number for the 407777.

But is an example from one the 100 407777 engine ipls. Item 868 is only used on the intake valve guide. And are under the valve springs so you have disassemble the valve system to get them to even fall out; otherwise, if they were installed there is no way they can fall out.
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Yup can't see them falling out since I didn't remove the valves. The model is 407777 type number 0174-e1. I did find the part on a parts website and it does call it a valve seal however like I said didn't remove valves & of course when I pulled the head there's nothing but the valves no seals. If they had come loose they would still been on the valve shift right?.

Right they would still had been on the stems as the metal cups are intact. Someone else must had in there and left them off and toss them in to get off the work bench.

ccrider2420 said:

Thanks for the reply, so I pulled the head to replace the gasket but I didn't remove the valves from the head so not sure how valve seals could have fallen out. Still looks like the hole the engine side of the pushrods is the same size as the seals. Can't believe no engine diagram shows them.

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Mystery solved. Pulled the head back off and you can see they fit into the holes in the block & the pushrods go through them to the lifter. Ordered two new ones on ebay now it will just be driving the new ones in without tearing them up lol

In the 14+ yrs I have servicing these engines I have never seen valve stems used at the lifters so you truly got an unique setup.

StarTech said:

In the 14+ yrs I have servicing these engines I have never seen valve stems used at the lifters so you truly got an unique setup.

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If its weird I'll end up with it lol

ccrider2420 said:

If its weird I'll end up with it lol

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Hope you checked and set valve clearance. I agree with StarTech, in other words, something isn’t adding up.

Tiger Small Engine said:

Hope you checked and set valve clearance. I agree with StarTech, in other words, something isn’t adding up.

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Yea it's strange but I removed the valves to make sure the guides weren't slipping out and both valve seals were in place and looked good. This mower has never had any repairs since it was purchased so it's unlikely anyone just threw them in there extra. The holes in the block that the pushrods go into are a perfect snug fit for the seals. Did have one fellow say he had a vw that had seals on the pushrods. Will definately adjust the valves when I get the new seals and reassemble it.
Thanks for the input.

Extra parts.....

Those seals go on the valve stem under the valve spring on the head....no where else. No small equipment engine uses anything on the pushrods.

heyinway said:

Those seals go on the valve stem under the valve spring on the head....no where else. No small equipment engine uses anything on the pushrods.

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You are correct! duh my brain finally started working and it dawned on my this was a v-twin, took off the other side and no seals! Now still consider this as strange since this mower was purchased new, has never been in a shop for anything, I can only assume these were thrown in there during the original assembly process.

That about like finding a shop rag inside an engine last week. It was a miracle it didn't cause any problems.

If you purchased a head gasket set, could the seals have fallen out unseen when the package was opened? The seals look new; no oil. How well does the pushrod fit the hole in the seal?

The seals go on the end of the valve guide to prevent oil being sucked into the engine during the induction stroke
Usually the inlet has one and the exhaust does not as when the exhaust valve is open the engine is pushing gasses out
They are installed by putting them inside the smallest socket that they will fit and tapping onto the end of the guide before the valve goes in