I have seen this problem but only in the 1.9 crankshafts the needle bearing
hole is not deep enough. I use these early cranks moslty on automatics. what
happend to the flywheel that came off this engine?  the original flywheel
had a larger opening to acomidate the needle bearing you would also need the
larger felt oring and the larger steel ring (same as bug and still
available ) to keep the felt in place once you open the center hole in the
flywheel.
Bob Donalds
http://www.bostonengine.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 8:41 PM
Subject: Re: flywheel pilot bearing will not fit!

> The pilot bearing is probably an aftermarket one with the seal built in.
> Beck Arnley supplies these. You have 3 options. Replace the pilot
> bearing with a correct one, Bore out the center of the flywheel, or Use
> a dremel or die grinder to remove the shoulder in side the crankshaft. I
> prefer option 1 or 2. The main benefit of option #2 is that the felt
> seal and the un-available metal sleeve in the flywheel center are no
> longer needed.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Eric Zeno
> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 11:09 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: flywheel pilot bearing will not fit!
>
> Here is one for the record books.
> I'm helping  a friend put in a new
> clutch in his 1.9L  / 2.L mixture.
> The engine and crank are 1.9L.  We installed
> the pilot bearing as far as it would go. This
> leaves it sticks out of the crank about 1/16".
> When installing the flywheel, the hole in its
> center, is not big enough to fit the pilot bearing.
> Therefore as you tighten up the flywheel
> you crush down the end of the pilot bearing
> making it impossible to install the input
> shaft of the transmission, without major
> force.  This is exactly what the DPO did.
> The pilot bear did not last, and then the
> clutch went.  Now we have to fix this mess.
> Any have any insight?
>                                   Eric