If one manually sets the motor to TDC, look at the balancer. If it is reading way off, that is a sign. While timing, the marks can be way off too (does not sound as though that is it in your case Matt).matthiasj said:
The elastomer starts to crack and can be like that for a bit before the outer ring starts spinning (high RPM's are often what break it completely loose and let it spin).
Oh yeah, on foxes IIRC, the SPOUT connector should show 1/3-2/3 (that is the spec) of the battery voltage when tested with a meter. That might be what your guy was getting at.
Good luck bud.