[kevandkaye]

I brought my Briggs & Stratton 16.5 tractor in for it's inaugural oil change. While draining the oil, I hear a little "plop" and find a small round half piece of metal with a cam on it about the size of a watch battery. I don't think there is any damage as of yet, but I have pulled the bottom half open. Any guess as to what this part may be?

[KISS]

Post a picture via "go advanced"

First idea. Part of the piston from a previous repair especially if the part was aluminum.

[kevandkaye]

Thanks for the advanced option reminder, I have done no previous tear-ins on this motor, but always have taken very timely maintenance of it. The last few years though, it was always tough to crank. I'm assuming valves were tight. Here's a pic of the junk that was in the pan I think it may be from the bottom or top pushrod area, still tearing into it.

[KISS]

That's a members only group of Yahoo groups.

[SteveWard3928]

You stated you brought in in for the inagural service. What did the repair guy say?

[kevandkaye]

I'll get that pict thing straight yet! By inaugural, I meant annual spring tune up... I usually do all the regular maintenance myself... maybe this works? Under the cam gear there seems to be a part with a piece of plastic, a sprung spring, and nothing else... could this be what's been "eaten"? And what's it called?

[SteveWard3928]

The picture works

[SteveWard3928]

I'll get that pict thing straight yet! by inaugural, I meant annual spring tune up... I usually do all the regular maintenance myself.... maybe this works?

Yep that dawned on me after I hit the submit button. I am afraid I cannot help you. I will back out of this question.

[KISS]

You can re-size pictures with IrfanView - Official Homepage - one of the most popular viewers worldwide.

[kevandkaye]

Here's the whole mess

.... maybe this works? Under the cam gear there seems to be a part with a piece of plastic, a sprung spring, and nothing else... could this be whats been "eaten"? and whats it called?

[KISS]

That's the oil pump.

BTW, there should be diagrams at Home - Briggs & Stratton

[MOWERMAN2468]

The sprung spring you are referring to was the compression release that was on the camshaft. There were many warranty claims on the compression releases a couple of years ago, actually probably four or five years ago.