Jim :
Unless your engine is freshly rebuilt (and usually even then), you can
just grab a crank throw and turn the crank by hand. The steel fan also
makes a good handle, as does the flywheel if you don't have a tranny in
the way <g>. If you don't have the plugs out, you'll have to turn a
little bit, then wait for the compression to bleed down, then turn
again. (Take the plugs out !)
There should already be a TDC mark, in the form of a hole through the
rear flange of the crank pulley and a pointer on the timing cover, but
they have been known to be inaccurate or missing.
If the distributor hasn't been disturbed, easiest way to look for
compression on #1 is to pull the cap and look for the rotor to point
towards the #1 terminal. Otherwise, you can pull the rocker cover, and
look for the exhaust valve on #4 to close as you come up on TDC #1
compression. (If you have the rocker cover with the oil fill at the
rear, you may be able to see the valve through the hole.) (As #1 makes
it's compression stroke, #4 makes it's exhaust stroke.) If you've got
the head off, you can look down the #8 lifter bore. Or, you can pull
the timing cover and look for the cam timing mark to point towards the
crank.
Randall
59 TR3A
Ct54531@aol.com wrote:
>
> My terribly
> basic question is what is the best way to turn the engine by hand - using the
> starter isn't possible at this point. Do I need to remove the fan?
> Or, do I recall that there's a marking or a flange on the pulley already.
> Also, (I think I know the answer to this but...) is there any way to tell if
> it's on the compression or combustion stroke?
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