The engine dies because when you tighten the adjusting nut too fast with pressure in the lifter you are actually holding the valve open (not seating all the way) for a split second or two....That way the vacuum decreases and the engine wants to die....

You can also use the other meathod to adjust valve... the engine fires every 45 degrees....so imagine or draw a line every 45 degrees from the timming mark (if the timing mark were 12 o'clock there would be a mark at 3, 6, 9 o'clock)

Put the engine on #1 timing mark on zero....adjust #1 valve....turn engine 45 degrees adust #8 and so on....