Toyota Repair: Adjusting valves, torque wrench, label states

Question
Hi ted,

I'm going to adjust the valves in my 2000 Vtech Honda Accord 4 cylinder. There's no Honda expert here so I figured adjusting the valves would be about the same for a Toyota as with a Honda. It's been a while since I adjusted valves so I have a few probably easy questions for you.

What's the best way to find TDC? I had a 1992 Accord and adjusted the valves in the engine and seem to remember finding TDC with a wooded dowel stuck in the spark plug hole. Is this appropriate or do you have a better way?

Also, do you use a torque wrench when tightening the nuts after the valve is adjusted? I seem to remember I had somewhat of a difficult time keeping both nuts from turning when I tightened them after adjustment. Is there a trick to this?

I've got the valve specs from a manual and going to adjust the valves while the engine is cold. Any other advice or tricks of the trade would be appreciated before I screw things up.

Many Thanks.

Answer
You can use the stick in the spark plug hole method to find TDC, most toyotas use shim type vlave lifters so I'm not too familiar with the honda but it sounds like there are adjustable rocker arms. Always adjust the valves when cold unless the underhood label states differntly.