Working on a Perkins AD3.152

I actually ran into this exact issue on a customer machine. My first time dealing with a hunting pattern as well. The customer timed a new common rail pump to the engine but had it out about 75° because they didn't actually have the engine on TDC. Timing was way out. The EPS read off the common rail pump, which confused the heck out of the ECM. I had to go remove the pump, reset the timing and then put the pump back in.

 

Correct on the hunting gear seat up. Line up exactly as per manual. Have to turn engine over several times before they line up again. Example, gm northstar engines have to be rotated 28 times around for the marks to line up again.
Dt466 i believe is was 30 times around.

I've done rope seals on oldsmobile engines. We had a packer. Essentially a half circle, used to have to compress and work it in. Most times there is a 2 peice neoprene replacement available.

 

They can be a little tight when you first put them in.
Usually you put them in the grove in the block first making sure it’s all the way bottomed in the groove.
Then you trim it flush with the block on each side with a razor blade.
Them do the same with the main bearing cap and then put a little bit of sealer on the ends and install the main cap.
You also could put a light coat of oil on the rope where it contacts the crankshaft.

 

Yes
I also did a lot of ropes seals on tractor engines and Oldsmobile car engines.
There is very likely a neoprene replacement for that engine just like you can use a 460 ford neoprene seal in an Oldsmobile 455 engine.