More diesel injection pump questions

Haynes talks of 'older' and newer type injection pumps used on series 3's. Mine's a newer type but I've seen what looks to be an inspection cover except its coiled with copper wire with a lead seal pressed into it to ensure that its not removed. I'm thinking about cutting the wire out. This surely gives a view of the timing marks as described on the older type pump, which seems a more straight forward way to set the timing. Has anyone heard of a reason not to do this?
Tommorow Im going to:
Pull off the injection pump and oil pump and remove the grub screw that holds the vertical drive gear in position. Pull out the vertical drive gear and re-position it such that the master spline is at 20 degrees past the horizontal mark.
Then unless i hear off a reason not too, cut off that wire and remove the inspection window and see if i can line up the timing marks within.
Then carefully re-assemble the whole lot and fire it up, hopefully with everything running a lot better than it is now.
Anyone any advice before i start ?? - Pat

hi pat
according to haynes diesel series 11a and 111 manual s8.16 they recommend removing the cover when "fitting new pump to observe driving plate through the viewing window, then rotate spindle until line marked A on driving plate is in line with mark on circlip". so no reason not to it seems

Remember, that with the timing set as it is now, it was once right and proper.

The ONLY two things that can alter the timing from there are (a) WEAR and (b) some bugger adjusted the pump on its base.

You can adjust BOTH of these out by re-setting the timing by trial and error till it runs best.

Don't look for troubles - they will pop up and find you soon enough!

CharlesY