An improved engine construction is disclosed having a valve train including valves and corresponding valve stems for controlling the intake and exhaust ports, cams for imparting reciprocating motion to the valves by way of the valve train, and a valve spring for biasing each valve toward its closed position and the valve train into tracking relation with the cam. The only element of the valve train coupling a cam to a stem is a cam follower with a depression for receiving the corresponding stem end and a cam engaging surface opposite the depression with the cam follower being held captive intermediate the stem and cam solely by the spring biasing of the stem toward the cam and the engagement of the stem end and the depression. The spring biasing is provided by a coiled wire spring having outwardly extending legs each of which engages a corresponding stem to urge the valves toward their closed position. The bight or coiled portion of the spring is held in a relatively fixed position by a portion of the engine casting.