So I was setting the valve clearance on my spare motor and in order to do so I was rotating the crank counter clockwise by was of the bolt that holds the timing gear. Thinks were going great until that bolt came loose. Anyone deal with this issue? I can rotate clockwise but am not sure thats a good idea. I was thinking about welding a socket on to an old sprocket and turning the motor that way but am open to easier solutions.

 

Did you take the plugs out ?
It shouldn't have come loose unless it wasn't tight enough in the first place.......

 

Yea plugs are all out.

 

I'm not sure how you'd tighten it again but if I had to do it I'd probably put the engine in 1st gear and grab a torque wrench. Putting the plugs back would probably be my choice, too, to improve torque. Getting a friend to hold the engine steady wouldn't hurt either.
Once it's back tight you should be good to go with the valve clearances..............

This is just what I'd do, so take it from whence it comes, ok.............?

I also turned the engine using that nut but didn't have a problem. Torque settings should be in the manual.

 

Same thing happened to mine when I did the valves. I put in gear and tightened it, and turned CC to set the valves.