I have done them a couple of ways with the engine off. But sometimes, every once in a while, doing them with the motor off just will not work. Lifter bleeds down too fast and you end up over tightening them, or for whatever reason. It happens sometimes.
So it has to be over 40 years ago now, a really good mechanic showed me how to adjust them with the motor running. So if you are adjusting hydraulic lifter valves and for whatever reason the motor is still running badly or still tapping, get the motor running, turn the idle down until the motor is just about stalling, like a tractor, lol, flop a welders glove on the rockers so you don't burn your arm or bump the moving parts, wear some mechanic's gloves, use a wrench and a screw driver, loosen the adjuster until it taps, then tighten 1/4 turn at a time until it stops tapping, then tighten 1/2 more. It takes a little bit of practice to get use to the wrench and screwdriver moving up and down, but once you get in the groove, you are good to go.
Last edited by Dragsix; 11/19/2020 8:49 PM.
