How to Know if the Piston is at Top Dead Center??

How to Know if the Piston is at Top Dead Center?When checking tappet clearance on marine engines, we have to ascertain that the piston is at TDC. Though markings are provided on the flywheel, the marine engineer must know the other methods for this like inspection of the camshaft and the fuel pump window.During the maintenance of a four stroke marine diesel engine there are times when we must know whether the particular unit’s piston is at the top dead center of not. For example when checking the tappet clearances of the engine it is important to know which unit is at TDC.
Referring to the flywheel would indicate two units, but only one can be at injection TDC. So which one is it?
In this article the various methods to find out the position of the piston would be discussed. Some are very simple using conventional methods. Other methods are a little bit complicated, but nevertheless important whenever you require an independent method to find TDC.
Flywheel MethodThe flywheel is the simplest method to know which unit is at TDC. If the fly wheel shows two units, simply open the bonnet covers and check visually. The unit at TDC will have both the inlet and the exhaust valve closed and hence relaxed springs; the other unit would have both the arms of the rocker arm at different levels. In addition the push rods of the unit at TDC would be loose and can be turned by hand because of the release of the clearances. There is a word of caution however: this method is only useful in a working generator which you have just stopped to check the tappet clearances. In case you have removed the rocker arms for any reason the spring height and the push rod freeness check would lead you nowhere and misguide you.
Flywheel Marking

Fuel Pump Method:The most accurate method to know the position of the piston without opening up the piston is the fuel pump window. The fuel pumps have a window and as the plunger goes up and down, so does the mark on the bottom spring holder. On the body of the fuel pump there are cut marks which show the start of injection. In a diesel engine the start of injection is the injection TDC where both the inlet and the exhaust valves are closed. In this injection TDC we can check the tappet clearance. It must be noted however that the injection TDC is not the absolute TDC as the piston is still some way down depending on the design of the engine. An injection TDC may be around 5 degrees before TDC.Dial Gauge Method:
In this method the fuel injector is taken out and from the opening a dial gauge is put inside. Then the turning gear is engaged and the engine turned over. The pointer of the dial gauge will move in one direction and then stop and start in opposite direction. The moment the pointer of the dial gauge stops and changes its direction of movement is the TDC of the unit. This method is not normally used in day-to-day practice, but may be used in the calibration of the flywheel if it is not calibrated, or after some repairs.
Cam Profile :

Crankcase Method:In this method the crankcase doors are opened up and the piston is visually checked whether is going up or down. This is the surest method, but a bit cumbersome. It should be used when you have a strong doubt about the other methods.

Valve Spring Method:This is not an independent method but is used in conjunction with the flywheel method. In this method if the flywheel is indicating two units, you can check the springs of both the units. The unit in which the springs are loose is the one at TDC. The caution is that this method is useful for an engine in use. If you have removed the rocker arms during the overhaul and thereafter you want to use this method then it can cause errors.

Push Rod Method:This method is like the spring method and you check that the push rods are free to turn. The unit at TDC will have loose springs. The care that must be taken is that it should be used along with the flywheel method and should be used in a working engine. By a working engine, I mean the engine that was running and has been stopped for tappets adjustment.

Spill Timing Method:This is a very accurate (and tedious) method generally used to check the start of injection in the fuel pump. It will also give you the injection TDC. It is used not in the tappet checking process, but instead to find the start of injection when you have power or thermal balance problems.
Basically in this method the delivery valve of the fuel pump along with the delivery valve spring are removed. There after a special "U" shaped pipe is put in place of the high pressure pipe. After this operation the engine is turned by the turning gear and slowly brought near the expected TDC.
Soon oil will start spilling out of the pipe because the oil is entering from the inlet port, which is uncovered by the plunger. Keep turning the engine slowly and the oil quantity will reduce. The point where the oil flow just stops is the start of the injection. At this moment the plunger of the fuel pump has closed the inlet port and if you observe the fuel cam, you will find the follower is no longer at the base circle.
As this method involves the spilling of fuel, it is called the spill timing method.