I'm trying to line up the T mark on the flywheel as per the service manual to find TDC. I can't find it! Can I take the plug out and use a pencil or piece of dowel to find TDC or do the valves need compression against them. It ain't easy pulling on that rope starter to find that mark. They could have put something on the outside to make it a little easier.
Any tricks to lineing up that mark/
Thanks for the help all!

 

Yes you can do that, but you must be on the correct TDC...compression stroke that is. With the tappet covers off, use the recoil to slowly turn your engine over, watching the intake valve. The TDC immediately after the intake valve closes is the one you want. I use a small screwdriver down the spark plug hole to find TDC, and it works fine. Get as close as possible to TDC, but if you have to err slightly, go just past rather than just before TDC. The decompressor opens the exhaust valve slightly just before TDC compression, and that would throw your clearance adjustment off.

 

Got the job done, put all those crazy pieces back together and didn't even have any parts leftover.
And best part, I noticed it ran better, valves were a little tight. Also while in there I put an inline fuel filter in.
Thanks for your help!