Questions: "spacer pin" on a front cover repair ('95 E320 W124) and MB sealant

[71Rcode]

As I was replacing the A.I.R. pump, I figured I'd knock out the front cover leak too. I'd appreciate your advice on a couple of problems I had with the front cover repair.

Stupid me didn't look at my MB CD manual before I attemped this repair. First, I installed the "U" shaped gasket with the locator pin in place. Yes, I pinched the "U" shaped gasket in the front, but thought I'd use my MB sealant to take care of my blunder. That's my second question. I do appreciate it! Ok....

1) What should I have done with the spacer pin? The CD says "Push back spacer pin to enable front cover to be more easily installed." This is in the following pdf: "01-2120.pdf" Should I have just tapped it back into the block with a hammer? Is that what this means by "pushing back"? I will admit putting a pair of vice grips on the thing and tried to twist it. Wouldn't budge. So I can't imagine being able to "push it back". And is this locator pin even necessary? I almost cut it off with a dremel :0

2) After four days, my MB sealant (black- MB# A 003 989 98 0 10) is still tacky to the touch. I'm probably down to the last 1/4 of the tube, as I've used this on many other MB and non MB repairs. It's always been great stuff, but for some reason, it's no longer curing and is staying tacky.

I know I'm going to go back into the front cover and do the repair again (in a couple weeks) to fix my pinched "U" shape gasket. Is there another gasket sealant (permatex, perhaps) that might work better than the MB sealant? The MB cd calls for MB# 002 989 45 20 sealant. I think what I have is just a newer version of this part #.

It almost seems that my tube of MB selant is no longer good. I will admit not putting a cap on the the "funnel" end. But what usually happens with sealant is just the tip of the funnel dries, and that works as a "cap".

I'd appreciate any input on either of these questions. Many thanks!