Well, I would ALWAYS follow the maintenance manual to "set" the engine at (whatever degrees) before TDC if you're setting up a timing issue. But, if you just want to get the engine at TDC, I usually stick a pencil (eraser down) in the spark plug hole AND HOLD IT CAREFULLY while someone rotates the engine. If you are looking for TDC on compression, I usually do the same thing as mentioned as above and then when I find out where TDC is, back the engine off a little bit, remove said pencil and stick my thumb or finger over the spark plug hole and while the engine is moved back in the normal direction. When air starts hissing around your thumb or finger, you know you're on the compression stroke. If not, you know that this is the exhaust stroke and you must turn the crankshaft another 360 degrees to get it on the compression stroke. This is just my "don't have enough money for the right tool" method. I have never attempted this on my SC as I have not had to do this for any timing issue, but my recommendation is to use the maintenance manual. I hope this helps.