New member Ea-81 hydro lifters

[Darrel504]

Hi all, I'm a new member that has been using the sit for a few years now as a lurker which has been a great help. I have finally encountered a problem that I cannot diagnose from searching. 

I run 80's models Ea-81's in my mud boats. These engines have proven themselves for decades to be dependable powerhouses getting us through the swamps of south Louisiana. My most recent engine bought non running has a low and 0 compression issue that I traced down to no valve train movement. I pulled oil pan and rebuilt and primed the hydraulic lifters, reassembled and set preload by jiggling push rod and tightening until rocker contacted it, then tightened down another 1/2 turn. Each cylinder done at TDC on compression stroke with dizzy pointing at corresponding cyl. Reassembled and only had very little valve movement on only 2 valves. 

I then tightened the rocker 3 full turns and and had good valve train movement and started right up. Problem is I'm sure this is out of the suggested spec and do not want to eat a cam lobe. I realize that hydraulic lifters shouldn't have been adjusted but needed to ensure preload was correct conclusively trace my problem. 

Can anyone shed some light on if my original preload setting was correct? If so, why were valves still not traveling, and any advice to get my rockers adjusted in the correct spec?

Thanks for all the past and future help this forum has provided! 

[George1943]

In the 'Shop Talk' section, search for 'Adjust hydraulic valve lifter'. There's a write up on how to adjust them.