Report of findings:After struggling to get the threaded cap into the valve, I ended up using a sharpie to put higbee marks on the fitting like they do with firehose couplings. Then I was able to push real hard and only have to turn the cap a quarter turn to get it engaged. Then re-install the valve in the dozer.
I then had to get a new hose made for my gauge as it wouldn't fit. 45deg adpaters were only locally available as hose ends, so there's a 3/16" SAE male boss to JIC-4 going into the valve, then a JIC-4 45deg female to 1/4" NPT female hose, to the gauge. Whew!
Started her up, and at idle the blade moves much faster than it was moving at working RPM. At idle, if developed about 500psi while lifting the blade, then hit 2000 at the blade stop. At recommended RPM, it went to almost exactly 2250 at blade stop. That's good news since I don't think I could have gotten the cap on again while in the machine, if I had to add or remove shims.
So my final configuration was the 0.100" washer and four 0.010 shims.
My theory that my mechanic replaced the "seal", thinking he was doing a thorough service, but ran into the same problem with getting the cap on, so since he couldn't read drawings, he assumed the washer must go somewhere else, and left it out to get it together.
SO glad I didn't do a pump replacement!
