Which way valve retainer goes

[dennis]

I have read conflicting instructions of the placement of the valve retainer ring when re-installing valves in a small, single cylinder L-head Briggs and Stratton engine. One says the large hole in the ring retainer should go toward the open end of the spring compressor, and the other says toward the open end of the valve chamber. Does it really make a difference as long as the valve stem ends up secure in the smaller slot? I assume the same would be true for small Tecumseh L-heads with the same type of retainer.

[Skywatcher]

Hi Dennis

Once the valve retainer is secure and the engine is running, the retainers rotate at random so can end up in any position. The main reason manufacturers say to install the retainer with the large hole towards the cylinder is just for ease of installation. If you have the valve spring compressor that hold the spring and retainer like an oversized pair of tweezers, it's way easier to tilt the compressor up, slide it in, drop the valve through the large hole in the retainer, lower the compressor and release it than it is to tilt it down and find the retainer hits the cylinder before the valve stem lines up with the large hole. Hope this makes sense,

Sky

[dennis]

It does make sense, Skywatcher. Thanks for the reply.

[creia]

I have always done it with the larger hole toward the cylinder as per the Briggs manual and for the reason skywatcher stated.
Michael