You should take off spark plug 1 and move to TDC by shining a light or using a screwdriver or piece of wood or something. Someone showed me the timing mark on the crank once. Unless someone shows it to you it is really hard to see. That thin metal flange washer u refer to, that is bent to be put on one way, u have to peer between it and the backside to see the mark. (My memory is faded of this, since I've only seen it once, sorry)

I think it is the small notch in the flange washer u should use.

Sometimes the best thing is not to rely on marks and physically inspect for yourself. I used to be very paranoid about the marks, but that was from ignorance of how to check alignment myself for what the marks were supposed to indicate.