Engine won’t rotate to TDC. Changing timing belt.

Hello there. I am changing the head gasket on a 2010 with 220k miles. We drove it in garage. Removed intake, exhaust, all accessories and plugs/coils.

We then jacked it up. Put it in neutral and proceeded to turn engine clockwise with 1/2” breaker bar to get number 1 to tdc.

I was only able to get about 1/4 turn and it binds up. I think the transmission is still holding?? I go clockwise and counter and I just can’t budge past that point. I have been looking in the ports and watching cylinder position. I am not even close to hitting valves. I hav put in park and neutral 5 times and even confirmed it rolls in neutral.

I am a seasoned mechanic and have never had issues like this before.

any thoughts on what could be holding it from rotating?

 

Just tore into it again tonight. Just said forget it, pull off cams and timing chain and head. Proceeded to rotate engine as hard as I could. Number two cylinder has a bent connecting rod and the piston is scraping on the sidewall. It turns super hard through the stroke. Total bummer. Don’t put off your head gasket. Do it immediately