Timing Gear / Piston Position

[EE324]

I have a 85 ytm225DX. I had the cylinder off and did not see what position the piston was when I removed it. Where should the piston be when the timing gear is top dead center? I thought it should be in it's uppermost position since after the engine rotates, the exhaust valve opens on the piston's way out of the cylinder, but it's not even trying to fire.

[thefox]

There is a mark on the flywheel (behind the pullstart), you just have to unscrew the timing plug that is on top of the cover that the pullstart mounts to. Line up the "T" mark on the flywheel with the little mark on the inside of the hole, see pic 1(the piston will be at top dead center). Now the cam gear goes on, there is a line on one side of it, that lines up with the little pointer that is on the top of engine, see pic 2..

pic. 1
http://images.snapfish.com/34254%3C%3A723232%7Ffp3%3B%3Dot%3E2337%3D353%3D6%3 B%3C%3DXROQDF%3E23236%3A%3A52%3A572ot1lsi

pic. 2
http://images.snapfish.com/34254%3C%3A723232%7Ffp46%3Dot%3E2337%3D353%3D6%3B% 3C%3DXROQDF%3E23236%3A%3A52%3A675ot1lsi