Joe, sounds like I better put the crankcase halves together "dry"
with no sealant to make sure nothing binds, then if okay,
add the sealant around the crank bushing shells and outer
flange seam after it’s bolted together.

Glad to hear you can get a couple of years out of a can
of sealant. That’s my worst fear about expensive sealant,
is that I’ll use it once and it will harden up in the tube or can one me!
Thanks.