Pilot Bushing Advice (replace or reuse)

I pulled the flywheel off my Perkins diesel to get it resurfaced and put a new pilot bushing in it. I have been looking for a replacement bushing but I can't find one. I have looked at the Massey Ferguson websites (the Perkins was available in the MF65 tractor) but they seem to use pilot bearings in the tractors instead of bushings. The pilot bushing also seems fairly unique. It's stepped or shouldered on the OD and is pressed in from the engine side of the the flywheel. The engine side bushing OD is around 1.07 and clutch side of bushing is .84. The ID of the bushing is .623 (all measured with my cheapo caliper) and I think the spec for the bushing ID is .628 for the T-90.

So I guess my question is can I go ahead and reuse the one thats in flywheel or should I really get a new one made? I am putting in a whole new clutch and rebuilt transmission and TC in my 5 and I would hate to think that the pilot bushing would be the weak link.

Thanks,

-Dean

 

Dean,
I'm going to be of absolutely no help here. That being said, I just did a quick google of perkins diesel, first page alone looked like it could be productive. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that were I in your shoes, I'd be spending more time searching for the bearing in front of a keyboard, and less time under the jeep two months from now, wishing I had replaced the bearing. Unless this is a gotta have it together now sorta deal, I'd find the bearing. That puppy is buried in there.
It might be 'cause I'm getting older, but I would rather spend long hours in a nice 47 way adjustable computer chair, than on my back on a creeper with crap falling in my eyes.

Wish I could have been more help, but what the heck, its a bump.

 

:iagree:, couldn't have said it better.

 

Maximus78 , I also agree with farfle & stalin440. You wont be any closer than you are right now , may as well change it out. It should'nt be to difficult to have one made at any good machine shop if you cant locate a factory equivalent off the shelf. Although its not extremely worn out and not ever likely to actually "break" , no sense in allowing any more lateral movement then necessary on the input shaft and bearing.

 

You sure the "pilot bearing' is not the same as the 'pilot bushing' around here anyway people use the terms interchangeably.

 

Some pilot bushings (bearings) are bearings, like a ball bearing. Most older cars use a bushing made of oil-impregnated sintered bronze. The bushing is a bearing, in the literal sense.

 

pilot bushings/bearings are considered consumbales or wear items. as a matter of course, I always change them when I do a clutch. they are too cheap not to.

 

When I changed to my centerforce I ( I love it!) a few years ago I found some wear in my ID of the pilot bushing. I replaced it as I always do and a big problem went away. I have a Ford converted T-18 and it started having problems grinding in every gear when shifting. I figured I was due for a tranny rebuild soon and discovered that a worn pilot bushing can cause shifting problems. It still shifts just fine to this day. I would replace it since it is so cheap to do.