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<DIV>My opinion is once you removed the bearing you put some side load on
it..."shear". This could have put some flat spot on the balls, and or crimped
the retaining rings...You most likely damaged it in the removal process. I have
re-used the oil seal before but if it looks damaged I would replace it also. The
bearing may be fine but then again it would really suck to have a problem with
it because you removed it from the case. When bearing fail under such conditions
usually you buy lots of parts to fix it. In the case of the front bearing....If
you did damage it and it comes apart....A new case is like $140, and crank is
like $70, a new cam gear if metal gets back there is like $50....The real
question you need to ask is the $12.75 you save on using a possible damaged part
worth the expense of maybe $250 and down time. The oil seal is an $8.50
part....the question you should ask here...Is it worth it to fight a motor that
is not running right and looking at what is leaking and where to figure
out...Then tear down again and replace the oil seal....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Basically I have never seen a front bearing fail. Its usually if anything
the rear bearing and on the 4 strokes these fail quite infrequently with the use
of a good fuel and good care.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Now that you have it all apart My suggestion is to replace both parts.
While your at it...new rear bearing, ring and gaskets would be on my list if it
were my motor. Total less than $50 worth of parts, and motor is now like
new!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Troy Newman</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Legend5rc@aol.com
href="mailto:Legend5rc@aol.com">Legend5rc@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=discussion@nsrca.org
href="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 14, 2004 9:23
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> 1.40 FZ assembly question</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>If the front bearing's rubber oil seal sustained slight damage
upon the front bearing's removal, does it need to be replaced? I knocked
out the front bearing to make sure it was in good condition. It was and
I am planning on reusing it. The oil seal did have a small piece of its
inner flange knocked off by the wooden dowel I was using. Thoughts
anyone? </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>