I wanted to share my experience from tonight.. I set aside a few minutes to check the valve lash and do a little routine maintenance. As usual I use a pencil to check for the piston at 1/4" below TDC. Dropped the pencil in and spun the prop a few strokes. I noticed something funny and I guess the pencil got in a bind and snapped in half down in the cylinder. Has anybody ever had this happen before?

That was at 5:00 this afternoon. Needless to say several busted knuckles and a case of beer later everything was ripped down and now I'm back up and running!

I wanted to share this as a token of gratitude to folks on this forum. I am a rookie mechanic and referred to many posts on here for torque specs and tips.

Thanks MMT

Lesson learned; dont stick a pencil in your cylinders again.

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Lol, when setting the valves, spin the engine in its normal rotation. Watch the valve open then close and slowly give engine another 1/4 turn. Set that valve then repeat for other valves. Once your done roll it through its rotation again and recheck .Another fellow called me a while back and broke a pencil off. No need to know where the piston is to set the valves