Anyone ! After head gasket change my EJ20 DDX1BE (non turbo) developed loud knocking in RH head 3rd cyl. Suspect - Hydraulic Lash Adjusters – problem. Before I did work, engine was runing OK. It leaked into cooling system but no problems with valves. Head specialist has done crack test and machining. Only thing I did and regretting now, cleaned oil channels with air gun before assembling. I will try to assemble head with plenty of oil but had no previous experience with HLA. Can anyone give me advice how to do on the proper way. Where are possible pitfalls? Engine has 160k km and I can see that not long time ago was rebuilt. Oil pump works ok as well.

You need to pump up the HLA'S before reinstalling them,do this by sticking a paper clip in the little check ball and squeezing them in a cup of clean engine oil,pump them until then get nice and hard:p

That method only works on a SOHC.
You might try driving the car and see if the HLA's bleed the air out, usually within a few miles.

:) I am back!
Thanks a lot guy’s for the advice. I did research and found procedure on endwrench web site. Unfortunately I was bit quick on tools and took head off before wise advices and procedures.
Procedure indeed is that you have to purge HLA’s in the oil bath. Did I have oil out of them by forcing air or during assembling (rotating cam’s on “dry” its mystery and not important now.
Despite quite clean oil compartment’s 10-15 min for HLA’s in ultrasonic bath did magic and some gunk came out of while purging with some air bubbles as well. Fitted all back and cranked engine.
It did magic, only pleasant ticking noise was coming from the injectors.
:banana: