Reply to "How a Pantera Bronze Pilot Bearing is Machined"

8.

...Final Gaging and Inspection. The Gage Always STOPS-Tight, the Bearing Must be Polished Out to final Fitting! Just Slides in with a Twist...NICE! The Gage is .69950", the Fit is .0005" Per Side, total .0010 The Bore is Polished to + .0003 / -.0000 to Allow for 'Heat Expansion'. The Input Shaft is .69900"/.69950
Yes! The Gage Itself, was Machined and Polished Out to the EXACT Size of the ZF-2 Shaft Snout, Plus or Minus NOTHING!

NO Surprises when You are Lining Up that Transaxle!! Give it a Push 'Like You Mean It'!!. IN...DONE! (put 3 Drops of light Oil on the Snout, to start Her In)

'Near' Perfect, Only GOD is Perfect!

Last, Oilite has a characteristic many do not know about. Being a 'Oil Impregnated Sintered (Powdered) Bronze', it has the Ability to 'Meld', and Correct for Minor or Major Misalignments of the Input shaft! Meaning, it will 'Crush', While being Worked, from a 'High-Spot' Into a 'Low-Spot' and will 'Custom' Conform to Any and All Assemblies. This is the Reason Oilite will Never Harm the ZF Shaft, because It Can't! Any 'Binding' or 'Tightness', will Soon be Self-Corrected, and Oilite is Much Softer than the 'Gear-Hardened' Shaft. Take a File and 'Test' the ZF Shaft (NOT on the Critical Contact Area, Try the Very Tip), You will see what I mean, as the file Glances-Off the Shaft as if it were a Diamond!

The Bad thing about Oilite is, It IS SOFT, Delicate and Sensitive! If while installing the Transaxle, One should Smack the Inner Lip of the Bearing, this will Close-Up the Inner Diameter, causing any further Installation of the Input Shaft to be Near Impossible.
This is also the reason for Never using a Sledge Hammer DIRECTLY on the Face of the Bearing, to Install it into the Crankshaft! You use a Block of Hardwood between the Hammer and the Bearing!
Start the Bearing Straight and Level (The Chamfer will Help) and Hammer Her in until She Seats, and STOP!
Be Gentle But Firm, Remember She's Pregnant, and Your Hammering against the #3 Main, 'Thrust' Bearing!! LOL

Good-Luck with It!

* These Bronze Bearings are Listed for Sale on Ebay, Search 'Pantera Oilite Bronze Pilot Bearing'.