TRICK I LEARNED IS TO PUT A LITTLE PLASTIC PIPE PLUG(PUSH IN KIND) INTO #1 SPARK PLUG HOLE. TURN CRANK UNTIL PLUG SHOOTS 8 FOOT IN THE AIR AND VOILA YOU ARE ON THE COMPRESION STROKE. SET CRANK AT 0.

And what is your trick for getting the plug out when you suck it into the cylinder?

Good trick, especially when you ain't in a position to watch the #1 or #6 rockers to confirm that. & if I am confirming the dampener TDC with the screw in tool, I get the dampener to 15 BTDC then screw it in till it makes contact then I go back around CCW till it touches again (hopefully at 15 ATDC) & I repeat it once for good measure.

Best question ever.

or pay the neighbor boy a buck to hold his finger over the hole while you move the breaker. On the plastic plug if it is shaped right to where it could not get sucked inside that'd resolve that (potential) or stick a pin in it sideways. decades ago I had a plastic piece of something fall in there & people said to fire it up & I did & no issue but it was a fairly small piece iirc.

never had it happen. I put the plug in fairly loose and turn the crank with a ratchet slowly. it may suck in a little but it makes it easier to blow out. it is also important to have the right size plug. err on the side of a little too big.

I do also use the plug with the outer lip that is bigger than the insertion diameter.

i just use a remote starter and my thumb

Same here, it's worked for over 4 decades for me...

Try that with a Hemi

A clean Hemi pushrod always works when working on a Hemi.

I do t remember ever working on any car that I couldn’t bar the engine over while holding my finger over the plug hole.

Need a pic

I have used for years a simple paper ball and never have had a problem being sucked in! Valve is opening so why would suck it?

I would think the intake valve would be opened to prevent that from happening

Stop making sense will ya The only way it could get sucked in is if there were no rockers on the engine

Gus

so if it happens to be on the power stroke as he's cranking it around it won't generate a vacuum?

That TDC marks hits TDC twice and only one of the is the one you want.

Come on, guys...The OP was trying to be helpful.
Sure, he first posted in
ALL CAPS WHICH ANNOYS MANY PEOPLE.
He was trying to be a good guy though.

For $12 bucks these are pretty cheap and work great. Whistle Stop TDC

take a old sparkplug,beat the tip out on the bottom,weld a short piece of rod in the hole,screw in the head,turn engine by hand till it contacts the rod,mark the dampener,turn engine the other way till it hits,mark dampener,halfway between the two marks is TDC

Is amazing how ppl gets in doubts still with testimonials of some other ppl who already has made it!! Myself even with a ball made of paper, somehow threated into the hole threads. WON'T BE SUCKED IN!! AS FAR VALVES ARE WORKING!