1998 Mazda Protege valve adjustment

If the ticking goes away in about a minute I would say change the lifters you may change the shims and still have the same problem as it may be those lifters are bleeding off.

The lifters are solid and not hydrolic, how can they be bleeding off/

They are not solid lifters they are hydraulic lifters that use a shim to set the clearence to the cam lobs. See pic below first pic you see the center plunger the second pic you can see the oiling hole in it. They can bleed off. Center plunger

Oiling hole

Thanks racefan966 . I think you have the answer I was looking for. The lash was out .002 inches instead of .02 as i had said earlier, but the hydrolic lifter bleeding off would make more since, as the noise stops when oil pressure comes up. Thats why you are there with the answers and i am here with questions...thanks again

That is what schooling in the field does. No problems if there is anything else just ask. Thanks and have a great day.

to racefan966...wellI went to buy lifters for 1998 pr0tege who would have thunk it the lifters are solid part#ht2294 or w0133-1641076. no oil hole in the side as your picture indicated. what to do now

Well each manufacture makes them slightly different. It is still a hydrolic lifter so I would replace them and set the gap. Soak them in oil for a few hours prior to installing.