Timing mark check?

[Jeff XL79]

Is there any way to check the crank to camshaft timing marks without splitting the case? 

I've got an engine that will only run on one cylinder.  I bought the airplane finished with a full case better half. The #1 cylinder will fire and run if the mikuni choke is left on. Cylinder #2 has poor suction on the carb inlet and it is drawing a pretty good suction on the exhaust as I hand prop it. It's like the timing marks are off quite a bit. 

The previous owner said he could get it to run but claimed the oil pressure was high and it started leaking oil badly. I cleaned and polished the pressure regulator pistons and bores and got the oil pressure to stabilize at 30# when it was running on the one cylinder.  That was one problem fixed but now I suspect he got the timing marks way out of whack and compensated by giving the 009 distributor a major misalignment just to get cylinder 1 to fire. I've got fuel and spark to #2 but like I said the timing seems way off. 

So, is there any way around splitting the case?  I don't mind doing it because I  want it to absolutely be correct by the book but just wanted to make sure there wasn't a way to check.


Thank you eaglers. 
Jeff

[Kamcoman77]

Put the piston at TDC on the compression stroke and check the valve clearance. If it is around 0.004" to 0.008" the cam to crank is OK.

[CHARLES DEBOER]

Eight or nine years ago I had a bent valve lifter push rod that was due to bad heat treating or lack of heat treating. It would run on only one cylinder.

[Jeff XL79]

I will check both suggestions.  Thank you.

I was able to see the timing marks using a mirror and my cheap endoscope. The marks line up every two rotations. I'm baffled but there has to be a reason that's fairly simple.  

Update:  when #2 is at tdc the valve gap is 6 thousands.  I'll check the mushrooms next.

Jeff

[Kamcoman77]

Camshaft turns at half speed of crank. Cam gear twice as large as crank gear. Turn crank twice, camshaft turns once.

[Dan_]

Maybe you could do an actual compression test on both cylinders... But they should feel the same doing the "armstrong" compression check propping it.