Well that's the job done .... taking out the glowplugs didn't give access to use a rod to find TDC .... seems the glowplugs and injectors sit in a small side chamber to one side of the cylinder so there's no access to the piston.
However taking them out meant that I could follow the advice of my new mate 'bubbagoat' from the States, somewhere south of the Mason-Dixon line that with them out the engine can be turned over using the fan with a little pressure on the belt to snug it up .... the joys of international tractor forums!! 🙂 ... saved me loads of time and skinned knuckles.
In the end I turned it over until the valves were closed and the tappets at max slackness and set them there ... a few were a bit wide but not worryingly so, but it sounds sweeter for giving them a nip up.
Please fon't stop with the dangerous diesel anecdotes just because the job's done ... I'm enjoying them 😁
K
