Lifter won't stay in adjustment.

[Bored&Stroked]

If I'm working with older/rebuilt Johnson style lifters . . . or really any of them, I first put one in the engine with the associated cam and a valve setup and determine what the approximate length needs to be. Then I take it out and use a dial-caliper to measure it.

Then I put every lifter in the vice (with wooden blocks) and adjust them to approximately the same length. I check and see if any of them have what I'll call "too loose of adjusters".

Given that the adjusters are "squished" just a bit to cause an interference fit between the upper and lower threads, I will but the lifter in a big vice and compress the adjuster just a bit. This will increase the interference fit and tighten up the adjuster. It only takes a bit of compression (next time I'll measure how much!).

Now, this is 1/2 art and 1/2 science (it depends on your skill!) . . . if you compress it too much, you're screwed! You'll need another adjuster to start over with.

Another method would be using a hydraulic press - not using too much pressure.

Anyway, that is my method . . .

B&S