Thats not that uncommon of a config ...

You probably have a bad combination of Enginuity (the symm os), LIC
ptfs and SRDF TimeFinder Manager (the EMCCTL Library containing
SYMAPI) revisions. Get EMC support and get directly to the L2 iSeries
support group in the US.

If you are running V5R3M5 and have PTFs MF38149 / MF38939, you have to
use 5.3 or later of timefinder manager. IBM changed something to do
with object digital signatures. GO EMCCTL/MAINCTL Option 4 to see
what version you are running.

If the sync/split menus are failing that would be my guess. The other
thing i can think of is that timefinder isn't communicating with your
gatekeeper lun correctly.

TimeFinder 5.3.01 release notes indicate support for V5R3, V5R3M5, and
V5R4.
TimeFinder 5.4 was released 4/2007