Ross - I was looking for my notes but by memory I'm at 26 initial, 36 total. While it was idling and we were testing I took initial all the way to 34 and it didn't make a difference. We took it back to 24, where it started to slow down, locked it at 24.
The transition slot is now just barely visible as it is.
Doug - it is a manual, I have been waiting till it fires after I turn off the ignition before I load the engine since it doesn't do it every time. I am thinking from what you and a couple of others are saying is I should just load it as soon as I kill the ignition. It just makes me cringe to do it because once it starts it does give the truck quite a lurch.