Well I replaced the gearbox spline pilot bearing with the engine out and went to trial fit the gearbox and it just will not engage into the bearing. Having had a look at the bearing I can not rotate any of the rollers and appears to be too tight. The clutch alignment tool goes in ok but then that plastic so will always give a bit more. I do have another new bearing but the hassle i had getting the old one out (dremmel) I dont want to repeat. has anyone suffered this problem?
The only thing i can think off is that there was maybe some old material left and its disorted the bearing slightly, enough to not to get it to fit as it should.
How tight are these to install in the first place? are they fairly tight ? and how much force generally is needed ?
Would have hated this to happen with the engine installed as i dont think i would have ever spotted the problem.
Don\'t have an answer on this Pete, but I did see a tool - I think it was on Mazdatrix, for removing Pilot Bearings - don\'t think it was that expensive either - looked like a lock pick from what I remember.
Hold up - just found it:
http://www.mazdatrix.com/f-other.htm
Looking at a few tools on ebay, universal but should do the job, price anything from £40 upwards but at least they can be used on any car afterwards. Think I\'ll get the old one out and then clean the whole a bit more, it was a tight fit, bit too tight thinking about it.