Set of four solid steel push rods for Briggs & Stratton Intek V-twin engines - two intake and two exhaust, which is a complete engine. Covers both push rod positions: Briggs 690982, the intake rod, and 597785, the exhaust rod. The older exhaust rod number 690981 superseded to 597785, so that number cross-references here as well. Worth understanding what you are buying. On the factory engine these are not the same part. Briggs fits an aluminum push rod on the intake side and a steel one on the exhaust side. When something jams the valve train, the aluminum intake rod is the part that folds, which is why so many of these engines come apart with one bent rod and three straight ones. These are steel in both positions, so the soft link is gone. That is also the thing to be careful about. A steel rod does not fix the cause. The usual reason an intake rod bends on these engines is a valve guide that has walked out of the head far enough to hold the valve off its seat. Fit steel rods into an engine with a slipped guide and the next thing to give will be the valve, the rocker or the head. Pull the head and check the guides before you put it back together. On assembly, set valve lash to the figure in the Briggs manual for your model, then turn the engine over by hand through a full cycle before cranking it. Rocker arms, rocker studs, valve cover gaskets, valve covers and valve guides are not included.
- FOUR SOLID STEEL PUSH RODS - A WHOLE V-TWIN IN ONE ORDER - Covers both positions: Briggs 690982, which is the intake rod, and 597785, which is the exhaust rod. Two of each. Briggs superseded the older exhaust rod 690981 to 597785, so that number cross-references here too.
- THE INTAKE ROD IS THE ONE THAT BENDS - On these engines the factory intake push rod is aluminum and the exhaust rod is steel. When the valve train jams, the soft aluminum intake rod is the part that folds. These are steel in both positions.
- STEEL DOES NOT FIX A SLIPPED VALVE GUIDE - If your intake rod bent, find out why before you fit new ones. The usual cause is an intake valve guide that has walked out of the head and is holding the valve off its seat. Put steel rods into that and the next thing to give is the valve, the rocker or the head. Check the guides first.
- CHECK AND SET VALVE LASH - Set lash to the figure in the Briggs manual for your model, and turn the engine over by hand through a full cycle before cranking it so you can feel any binding before the starter finds it. This is the step people rush and it is the one that matters.
- CHECK THE ROCKER STUDS WHILE YOU ARE IN THERE - A rocker stud that has pulled its threads lets lash drift back out after you have set it, and it is a far bigger job once the engine is buttoned up than it is with the valve cover already off. Rocker arms, rocker studs, valve cover gaskets, valve covers and valve guides are not included.