I was doing my first valve lash for a 37 efi at 40 hrs and when i took the cover off.I noticed what seems to be a piece of black rubber gasket residue in a spot measuring .5in but everything else was shiny metal. This happened for each cover.I would think that it melted or dissolved some how so i called a briggs dealer and they say it doesnt come with gaskets anymore.He said i could use some kind of sealant.But it seems like this was a bunch of bull.Does it come with gaskets and what kind of damage could it cause? I took it to a prodrive dealer but he said everything was fine but he wouldnt say anything about the gaskets without confusing me.

I have never seen one without a grapghite gasket. Sure its possible. If it wasnt leaking i bet it had some sort of wet gasket on it. I would prep it and install a set of gaskets but im sure an anerobic sealer would get it done cleanly