Flywheel TDC marking.

[Caracad]

Hi all.
I can’t see any “o” marked on my flywheel to signify TDC.
Is this common? Do they get worn off by the starter or something?

Am I just not looking hard enough.
Someone in the past has put a bit of red paint on one off the teeth. I assume this is TDC, but wondering if there is any way of checking this.

[markinnes]

I've been waiting for some-one more knowledgeable than me to reply - but since no-one has... Yes, I have a Clear mark on my 1970 PF Coupe. Only 69,000 miles on clock, so maybe different for higher mileage, or older cars? On my Triumph I could tell by which valves were rocking - not sure if that's the case on our flat fours?

[lancialulu]

A simple way to find the mark is to make a "dead stop" tool from an old spark plug.

Tool made by knocking out the ceramic centre of the spark plug and threading it to take a rounded off threaded rod (I used an M8 thread insert and m8 rod).

Fit this in #1 plug and with a bit of juggling screawing the threaded rod in with the piston near TDC find the contact point. Back off the thread and and rotate the crank till it does not foul. With care you can find the markings. This dead stop method is a good check that the markings on the flywheel are at TDC.