Combines 1083 water pump bearings

Will, It takes time and patience to get the shaft lined up properly but it is worth your time to do it correctly to prolong the bearing life. When you get a new stripper knife kit with bearings and everything there are some instructions included telling you what thickness of shims to start with behind the bearing holder. Start with those shimes bolt everything up tight and then see if you can move the roller back and forth on the bearing shaft. If it is free to move back and forth, turn the roller 1_4 turn and move it back and forth again. If it is free turn it another 1_4 turn and see if it is free to move back and forth. Repeat that untill you have turned the roller one complete turn. If at any time the shaft is in a bind in the bearing and will not move back and forth you have to add or remove shims or adjust the bearing holder up and down in the slots to make it free to move and then start over checking it every 1_4 round. When I converted my head over from needle bearing to water pump style bearings it took me about 8 hours to do each row. K.A.

my boss gives me one hour per row . i would like to work for your boss. tighten up back two bolts first, then install the front shims ,but use screwdriver in to make room for shimpack without pulling out too far. then tighten. then wriggle by hand, should be loose. and make sure you torque set bolt to right spec, with loctite.

The key phrase in your post is "Should be loose". It might be loose at that point but when you turn the shaft a half round it may also bind, and if it does that is what causes early bearing failer. But since your boss tells you to do it that way, you better do it that way, but since I'm my own boss I'll do it the way the book says to do it and not have near as many bearing failurs as you do. K.A.