You can check the comp stroke two different ways. One is to pull the valve cover off and watch both valves close completely and then bring your balancer up to 0 Or you can do it the easy way rotate the motor over with the number one plug out and have your thumb over the spark plug hole (I use a whistle stop)rotae the motor until the compression blows your thunmb or finger off of the plugged hole. Bring your balancer up to 0 on the timing marks and then pull your cap off and it will hopefully be either on #1 or possibly 180 off. Hope this helps.