How to I get #1 piston to TDC?

[Infamous]

How to I get the number 1 piston to TDC? I know how to hand crank the engine and such but how do I know when it is at TDC? Also what is the simplelest way to do so? I am going to remove my cam for replacement.

[TAGs95CivicEX]

Well you can take your valvecover off, then your timing gear cover turn the engine till the timing marks line up. You can check to make sure both intake and exhaust are closed to make sure you are on the compression stroke. or do it the old fashion way of stick your hand over the spark plug hole till the compression pushes it off, then you know it's the compression stroke. And then you should be all set. Also could check the distributer to make sure it's pointing at number one, to be extra super sure.

-TAG

[OniFactor]

marks on the crank. you'll see a grouping of 3 marks, then 1 off by itself. that 1 is what you want. line it up with the sight

[clemsonvic]

take out the number 1 spark plug and put in a long wooden dowel, move the crank slowly, the piston will move the dowel up, then when it starts to go down back it up a bit and there you go

[Infamous]

Okay I align it with the crank pulley.

I would probably download or buy a Helms manual. They're very inexpensive and will be your best friend, especially in these type of situations.

[gpny]

Originally Posted by clemsonvic

take out the number 1 spark plug and put in a long wooden dowel, move the crank slowly, the piston will move the dowel up, then when it starts to go down back it up a bit and there you go

That's what I do...

[OniFactor]

Originally Posted by pelsise

That's what I do...

how do you people know whether or not it's on the compression stroke? seriously, half-assed ways for fixing things really aren't that much easier than doing it the right way..

[transzex]

crank doesn't care it it is the top of the comprssino stroke or exhaust stroke, that is the heads job

[gaowee]

make sure your dizzy is pointin to the #1 on sparkplug wire then check the crank for the marks like oni said..since its pointing to #1 on the dizzy it will fire it..so #1 is now on the compress side and is waiting to go boom..thats how you can tell where the air/fuel getting compres and waiting for spark..

hope that help..and that dowel thing is a joke..come one guys give out good info not bad one..next u guy want him to crank it too rite and see how high he can shoot the dowel up is how good is compression is??