qldit

Good Morning DH2008, the engine valve timing can be checked using a simple procedure.

I would firstly do a complete engine compression test, that will also give additional information to help confirm what may have happened.

To confirm if the valve timing is incorrect is easy enough.

You will need to remove a tappet cover to allow you to see number one cylinder tappets.

Removing the sparkplugs makes this easier because you need to manually rotate the crankshaft, by hand or with a spanner etc.

Now rotate the engine to create number one cylinder on its inlet / outlet cycle, (not the compression stroke) this will allow you to see the inlet valve just about to open and the the exhaust valve just closed. This is called "rocking" the point where transition is about to occur.

At this point number one piston must be at perfect top dead centre.

If there is no crankshaft TDC indicator you can put a fine piece of wood or a fine rod down number one sparkplug hole and carefully determine as that piston begins to drop, determine the point eitherside by carefully turning the crank by hand backward and forward and you should be able to confirm prettywell where TDC actually occurs.
Suitably mark the balance pulley and confirm if this is the point of valve rocking.

This is a standard procedure and will be accurate and simple.

If you find the valve rocking position is more than a few degees away from TDC you can relatively confidently say the timing is wrong.

All the best,

Cheers, qldit.