Hughes "retro fit" lifter not pumping up!

Yeah. Hydraulic lifters in particular seem to have gone into the toilet quality-wise in about the last 10-15 years. I am wondering if some the 'tricks of the trade' in making good check valves learned back in the 30's and 40's when hydraulic lifters were being developed have just been lost with the turnover in personnel.

I think I am gonna try to find some old one and take them apart and see how the old innards compare to new innards.