I lock the engine with a piston stop
Then tap ( note tap not smash ) the pinion with a dead blow hammer / mallet
And it has to be a dead blow so that is either leather faced or lead , nothing else yields a true dead blow
This will lock the tapper and allow the pinion to the tightened with out moving
If you do not have one a chep & easy dead blow lead hammer can be made from a welders hammer
Cut the side out of a baked beans can enough to get the hammer in then heat the can while tossing lead into it .
When it is full up to the cut out allow to cool then cut away the can.