If this is a manual tranny, note there is a felt seal that fits over the
bearing that the shaft fits through. This is to keep dirt out and grease
in. Oddly, the bushing that holds that felt in place is slightly press
fitted into the flywheel. This can come out on dis-assembly and easily
lost, or if you reface the flywheel the machine shops often knock that
brass/bronze bushing out of the flywheel when mounting it to machine the
face. They tend not to put it back in there. Then there is nothing to
hold the felt in place, you get grit and clutch dirt in there and sooner
rather than later you h ave a bad bearing. Some say that bushing is not
necessary, but I personally consider it absolutely essential. BTW - it
is often listed as NLA - but it can be found - often on TheSamba.

So now you know!

john

On 5/8/2013 6:32 AM, Jeff Lincoln wrote:
> So, I am still working on this clutch job (was delayed by a particularly
> stubborn flywheel bolt) and I have a question about the pilot bearing.
>
> You see where the pilot bearing should be....well it is not. I have a
> replacement but I am concerned about cleaning that space out properly.
> There appears to be no real indication that the old one existed - no
> needles at all and when I place my finger int here I cannot feel where the
> the bearing ends at all.
>
> So even if it was that bad you would think I'd see something of the old
> one. Where did it go? I would think that at the very least the "race" of
> the old bearing was still there an needs to come out. I greatly appreciate
> any advice at all because this is new territory for me.
>
> As they say a picture is worth 1000 words:  *http://tinyurl.com/bmyp29p*
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
> .
>