How to adjust valve lash on my '90 Mazda 323?

So...a valve started clacking--a LOT-- on my trusty old 323. I thought maybe this engine had a bit more miata heritage, so I figured I'd need to clean and/or replace an HLA (Hydraulic Lash Adjuster) or two.

I thought that...until I pulled the valve cover off and realized that I don't think this engine has the HLAs.

Looks like this under the cover:

and this is the valve with the slop:

I had the shaft-mounted rockers off the other day looking at this...but wasn't really sure what all I was looking at or for yet. Now that I have them back on...I've found the valve with all the clearance (Roger, Vector, Victor!).

So...how do these adjust? That pad on the rocker that contacts the valve...is it threaded or otherwise adjustable?

Forgive me for asking when I can probably just dig in and figure it out...but it wasn't glaringly obvious the other day, so I figured someone here probably has been here before.

Thanks for any constructive input!
Clem

Maybe it's just me, but that's a LOT of gap. Does it sound like ten guys playing spoons when it's idling?

Yeah, that's a substantial amount of gap. I've seen less gap with bent valves...

It looks similar to a Honda D-series, but without the obvious adjusters on top of the rockers. I'll keep looking and see if I find anything useful.

All '90 Mazda engines, except the rotary have hydraulic lifters/adjusters.

Service manual says there are hardened, removable discs between the cam and the rocker. Perhaps those can be replaced.

What is it about what you are seeing there that makes you think it does not have HLAs? You can see the oil pathway in the casting, going directly from the rocker shaft to the tippy top of the HLA hole.

A different Mazda motor with HLAs (F2T), hotlinked:

Looks like one on a 4g63 SOHC Galant motor. Sounds like a leakdown check is in order (To eliminate a bent valve) and a new HLA.

JamesMcD wrote: What is it about what you are seeing there that makes you think it does not have HLAs?

Well...that's just it. I don't know what an HLA looks like, exactly.

Is the HLA in the rocker arm? If so, that makes sense, it's just WAY smaller than I expected.

And yeah...that gap is Freakin' Huge (as opposed to wee...or not-so-wee. Thanks Mike Meyers).

"Ten guys playing spoons"...lol.

This motor saw some "deferred maintenance" in the time between my ownerships (and hey, I'm not completely innocent myself).

Clem

The lifter is inserted in the end of the rocker arm- the little tip sticking out that is not in contact with the valve stem is one end. You have to pull the rocker (shaft) and the lifter should slide out of the rocker, unless its varnished in there.

Thanks!

I'm sure it's varnished in...look at that mess!

Plus, it's stuck in the collapsed position, I guess.

I think I'll pull it and soak in something nasty like SeaFoam or such and go from there.

Thanks again all!

Clem

Mmmm...quiet again!

Autozone had "lifters" in stock for $14. I replaced that one collapsed one and am back in business.

(for some reason, I had it in my mind that these were dealer-only items priced at or above $30 each...glad to find that wasn't the case).

Thanks all!
Clem

Good, glad you fixed it.