For ease of set up it's nice to have an extra pinion bearing honed out just enough to slip on and off by hand. It gives you the ability to make changes with ease.
You also haven't mentioned adjusting the ring in or out, have you moved that at all?
Yes I`ve read of the honed out bearing, I was hopeing to use the original shim, and luck out, I should of known better with my luck.
To your question yes, post 1 and 26
