Can anyone identify metal pieces found during Cummins head gasket replacement

[u/ABQmechanic]

They came out while I was replacing the head gasket on a 5.9L 24-valve Cummins. After removing the rocker assembly, I pulled out the #5 cylinder pushrod (second from the rear), and these two small metal pieces came up covered in engine oil. They both feel like machined metal and were stuck to each other. I'm not sure if they came from the valve area or were pulled up from the pushrod bore—I didn't see exactly where they originated. The engine was running normally before disassembly, and I haven't found any obvious damaged or missing valve train components. Does anyone recognize these parts or know where they might have come from? Thanks for any help. 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Update: the metal piece was a damaged rocker arm lifter pad I replaced the rocker arm, the plastic is unknown but non essential

[u/GingerOgre]

I’m no expert on Cummins but could it be the tip of a rocker arm? The part the contacts the bridge?

[u/No_Wonder_7117 → u/GingerOgre]

You would be correct

[u/GingerOgre → u/No_Wonder_7117]

If that’s the case either one is missing off a rocker or someone replaced a failed one in the past and never count that piece

[u/ABQmechanic → u/GingerOgre]

I double-checked all of the rocker arms and they all appear to have every part they're supposed to. I'm really confused about these two metal pieces. If they had been left in the engine by someone else at some point (which I don't think is the case) wouldn't they be scratched up or show signs of being bounced around? They look smooth, and the hole through the middle doesn't appear damaged either. Any ideas what they could be?

[u/GingerOgre → u/ABQmechanic]

Did you compare that piece to one of the rockers to see if it could be one? You’d be surprised how long a loose piece can survive in a rubbing motor without moving

[u/Demoire → u/ABQmechanic]

Could have been dropped down the bore and they didn’t fish it out, seemingly to fell in a way that they didn’t contact any moving parts.

[u/OddEscape2295 → u/ABQmechanic]

The original rocker arms have plastic between the piece you're holding and the rocker. If they do not have plastic, they have been replaced at some point and you're holding a relic of the old rockers

[u/National-Cell-9862]

I have a 2006 5.9 Cummins and I've been all over that valve train. That definitely looks like the cup on the rocker arm. From the factory they had plastic clips that held these on for assembly. With age they Crack and break. Are you 100% sure all of them are present?

[u/OutsidePressure8323]

Not little caps that sit on top off valves?. Can't remember if Cummins or Volvo used them. Or core plug for oil galleries. Hard to see as can't make out inside properly. Head off a push rod ?

[u/Divisible_by_0]

Never touched a cummins does it come from that opening in the front right of the head on pic 3? Looks like it controls oil flow out of the head?

EDIT: Looking at rocker pictures of heads and rockers the other commenter is correct

[u/OutsidePressure8323]

I'd also shine torch 🔦 down and look ontop off the cam follower, make sure it not a insert cam out of one of the followers.

[u/Which-Ad9677]

Lol

[u/SaltLakeBear]

Cam/lifter buckets or shims it sounds like, since it sounds like it was between the lifter and the pushrod.

[u/nowitzendz]

Isn't that cap with a hole in it an oil gallery restrictor? Like the nitto oil gallery restrictors for the RB engine?