The reason I gave that example is that service manuals, such as the one I presume Wayne is using, usually give a point at which to start adjustment and it is usually with Piston 1 at TDC. In a petrol engine, it is very easy to whip a spark plug out and check when the piston reaches this point, not so easy on a diesel.
I may have misunderstood his question all together, but as long as he checks the adjustment when the cylinder is at TDC of the compression strokes, he wont go far wrong.