The surest way to find TDC on ANY engine is to first get a degree wheel and
bolt it to the crank. (Less than $10 at any hot rod shop.) Then make a
pointer out of stiff wire and bolt it to the engine so you can read a degree
angle off the wheel. Finally, kludge together a "piston stop" from an old
spark plug and a piece of stout rod. (Wood, steel...anything that won't
bend.) Screw it into the cylinder you want to set to TDC such that the piston
comes up and stops firm against the rod somewhere below the top of the stroke.
Read the degree wheel, then turn the engine in the opposite direction until
the piston hits the stop again. Read that angle. TDC is half way between the
two angles. This is actually more accurate than using a dial indicator, and
cheaper, too.
- Carl Dreher
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