Cummins X15 starts and then dies

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So... Trucks been pretty good but I just let it sit for a month and went to move my trailer Wednesday and it kicked both check engine lights and wouldn't bulk over 22# off boost. Thursday I took it to the International dealership by the house in central Wisconsin and they figured the actuator was probably fine but the vanes were binding and recommending replacing everything due to the 702,000 miles. They quoted $2034 usd for the actuator, which would have to be overnighted from Indianapolis, $289 for the actuator gasket kit, and were struggling to find a current cummins number on the turbo but in 2022 said it was north of $7800 usd. Long story short, I ordered a reman from HD Turbo out of Chicago and had it shipped FedEx overnight. It arrived at 2pm Friday. They come pre calibrated but the shop had to recalibrate because of the computer for some reason. It came with everything needed except the oil line gaskets/o-rings.
The turbo was (usd) $4199 complete ($3299 without actuator), $800 core, and $300 for overnight shipping ($50 for FedEx ground). No tax, includes return label for the core. I had $1400 in labor, parts, and diagnostics. All in, i'm at $5900. The shop said they were having such a difficult time finding parts and after seeing this turbo, they're going to start offering it as an expedited option to their customers. They were pretty impressed. Turbo includes a one year, unlimited mile warranty from purchase date. Was told they reuse the housing and they replace everything internally, balance and flow test the units with reports. There's my experience.

Here's the turbo:
You searched for - HD Turbo - turbocharger remanufacturing company

 

Seems to be good to go. The shop said they have very little issues with the turbos themselves and were a little surprised it was the culprit but said it happens. It's been acting up for 55,000 miles so there was some warning.

 

just replaced my turbo actuator, without insite, with a Chinese knockoff. “Turbokoo”
2018 x15
Comes with a calibration “box”
Basically a Adrino made specifically to calibrate the actuator to the turbo. Easy peasy and cheap if you’re broke down in your driveway like me. No tow bill, and no roadside. and the actuator works just fine.
I did get a “incompatible turbo actuator software” code the first time I keyed the ignition. But it was intermittent, and the second time I keyed it, it fired up and ran good the rest of the day.
How long will it last?
Who knows.
I diagnosed it simply by removing the actuator and keying the ignition on.
No movement from the actuator.
The truck would start and run rough, at maybe 400 rpm, then die. first thought was it’s starving for fuel.
nope.
It’s starving for air. The vgt chokes out the turbo and starves the engine for air. And the actuator seized in the closed position.
Cummins wanted $2100 for a new actuator, and $1690 for a reman
$747 for a Chinese actuator, with a calibration tool. (No insite required) or (part changer)
Pretty easy job, just don’t strip the Allen head bolts.
They are definitely stuck, don’t even pretend like you aren’t gonna strip it, you probably will. Hit them with pb blaster and let them sit. Clean out the Allen’s before you wrench them, or you’ll be running out to buy a set of easy outs. Anti seize the new bolts when reinstalling. Also, you have to drain the coolant, about 3 gallons. the turbo and actuator have coolant running through them. If