Well, I finally bit the bullet and tore into my gearbox to put new bearings in and found the end of the input shaft worn. It looks like the previous owner lost the pilot bearing at some time.



Here's the question:

Is this shaft still usable? If I do re-use it will I stressing out the input shaft bearing and causing it to fail sometime down the road?

Thanks for the input.

David

David -

I would say don't reuse it as is.  You could see if a machine shop could repair it by turning it down and making a press on sleeve of the right size.  However, after the bill from the shop you might have already paid for a new one.  From your local Chevy dealer the input shaft should run around $350-400.  It is a replacable part as my dealer told me he could get it if I needed it.  Also, try calling the place you got the rebuild kit from in case they can get parts like that.

Frank

OK - will look into the input shaft!

David

OK - New input shaft arrive this afternoon! The supplier of the bearing kit had a NOS Suzuki input shaft for $135. Much better than the dealer price...

David

For $135 I think I would have done the same thing you did but I was just wondering, could the shaft have been built up with welding rod and put on a lathe and machined back to specs?

I would not weld that. Its hardened steel for one and welding it would work but could chip off.

Only option would be to drop off at machine shop have them machine it and press on a steel sleeve then machine it but thats probly 2 hour of labour right there.

My side kick had the same problem. If i remeber corectly i made a small spacer to push the bearing more into the crank so it would ride the tip of it. I was cheap back then lo.