300E - Timing question

[Phalcon51]

I'm in the process of replacing the water pump and I'd like to check the timing while the belt and all of the pulleys are off and out of the way.

Can I do any harm by running the engine with all the accessories inoperative, ie water pump, alternator, A/C, etc.? I would only be running it for about 10-20 seconds at a time, just long enough to see where the timing is set at idle. And yes, I'm planning to put the coolant back in first. It just seems that the timing marks and the trigger are a lot easier to get at this way.

Thanks,

Gary