Charlie, I have no idea what is going on. Are you positive that you have the correct bearing? When you discovered it was difficult to get the bearing in the bore, did you at that time not check the shaft hole size against the end of the main shaft? It is hard to believe that one would not check that. Well, I know from experience that you can knock that bearing in the hole of the crank of a 1985 617 engine, but not without freeze shrinking it. I shrunk mine in the freezer for 24 hours and had a "weather warmed" engine sitting in the sun light on about the 4th of July. That one mm difference in size as I recall is about 35 thousandths, and that is a lot of squeeze when it come to steel. Without freeze shrinking I am sure the bearing would break up in forcing it in. And even then, though it started in easily, it soon pushed hard and took a couple of pretty good hammer blows to get it to the bottom. The transmission shaft, "which I had previously checked" fit to a "T", so no problem there at all. I do fear that someday the pilot bearing will have to be removed, and I do suspect it will be difficult. But it is going on 4 years since, and all is well.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!