curious about valve lash setting/check

If it's a hydraulic you can use an 1/8 of a turn to 1 full turn and the engine won't know the difference.
appreciate that yellow rose, if there isn't a 'check' for the setting, is there a good way to know when you have gotten to "the sweat spot" before adding the load? I was adjusting this afternoon and it seemed to me to be going further and further before the push rod would stop spinning. could I have been doing something wrong? holding too tight? and yes, hydraulic lifters. one other point, engine hasn't run in a couple weeks, would that have any effect?