I just finished checking my deck height. I used a flat piece of steel with a dial indicator mounted. I have the number I am looking for however I would like to double check using a second method. I was planning on torquing down the cylinders then checking with a flat plate and feeler gauges.

The trouble that I am having is- how do you safely and accurately torque the cylinder jugs to the case? I have seen people use several sockets or nuts. There is only a small edge for the sockets to sit on and the head studs start to bow out when I torque them. In the past, I cracked a fin doing this. What do people do to safely and accurately attach the heads to the case when checking deck height?

I just pulled them down snuggly then measured. After cross checking measurements for accuracy, I did the rest w/ a feeler gage and it was just as accurate!

Click to view attachment

Ok- does everyone agree that putting the bolts on snuggly are all that are needed. I hope so cause that would make life much easier.

Yep just snug all 4 headstuds down as much as you can before you risk cracking a fin!

I've done back to back tests and haven't found a significant difference between perfect torque deck height and just snug.

Here's my setup...

Snug will do it.

Thank you to everyone for the advise!!!!