You’re about right, DBM.  The mark was pointing at about the 1 o’clock position and the piston was down more like 1.5”.  

At 13 turns in on the adjuster screw (from 0 clearance), and flush with the rocket arm, it didn’t look to create a wide enough opening for it to squeeze by.  I would have been happy for it to just get stuck in the gap and then yank it through with forceps.

It’s freaking me out a bit jacking open the valves.  I can just see me dropping the  adjuster nuts down into never never land.  I’m clumsy and unlucky like that.

I may give it another shot today with the piston only lowered a bit.  Vacuum is pretty strong, but not strong enough from the distance to the piston.

On a positive note, I did get some good practice checking and setting valve clearance on all 4 valves.  I’m nicely between .004-.005”.  I did this after I put the adjuster and nut back in approximate place and rotated around 1.8ish turns to TDC on the compression stroke.

I have several photos with my phone and the endoscope camera, but resizing and posting here is a pain and won’t really help much.

Ahh now i see why you don,t get it out. You should not yous a fexible tub on your vacuum but a harder matrial. like plastic or metal and whit an as big diameter as possible.

And when you have a bite and are almost at the hole, you have to make small back and forth movements so that the wood can arrange itself until you get the end. and then it can come out. One of the valves must be open. And the piston perhaps halfway through its stroke.

That thing is monstrous!  The piston is 94mm (3.7")....no wonder it doesn't want to come out!

At some point, you may just want to pull the head.  

For anyone who ever wants to confirm TDC, use a screwdriver because the handle won't allow it to fall into the cylinder.

Yeah, it's a freakin' log!!

Here's a link to the endoscope camera.  It works well.  When using the mirror attachment to see side angles, it loses quality and requires frequent cleaning with alcohol and a lint free cloth (no surprise given the hell I put it thru).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4FBM6GV?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Gary.  No.  You have a cool bike!

What about a bbq lighter, can you stick it in there and burn it?

I'm ready to start a wager....  Here's the bet...  Hit the happen button and see what happens....

Wager A: YOU bet $20 the engine will suffer severe damage like bent/broken valves and/or related components.

Wager B: I bet the bike won't suffer any damage.  My wager amount is my repair cost (a real mechanic and parts) if I'm wrong.

This is like a twisted go-fund-me with a wager.  Your $20 bet won't win you any money;  but you will win the absolute knowledge that Little Woody can beat Big Bad Metal.

I need about 50 bets against me!  Bring it on!!  I'll be nice...  If I win, I won't keep your $20!

Y'all want to know!  You want to see me hit the happy button!!  It's like watching a train wreck!