Hey Denny, I can see that working as well. In either case, the engine only rotates two cycles, both in the way you describe it as well as in the way I describe it. I only rotate the engine 90 degrees at a time as well, just at a different point of the cycle. I might try it your way next time.

In my eyes, you have described it adequately, but maybe for the new guy we should add that in your method number 1 has to be at tdc on compression stroke to start off. You did mention that both valves should be closed for that particular cylinder which says the same thing. But in the case of a mild cam with little to no overlap, it could cause confusion.