Right - let me get this out there from the get-go:
I am an idiot!!
Through the journey of time, the dulling of grey material, and plain old stupidity, my mistake is now borne for all to see. My "shelf" within the sprocket carrier wasn't the edge that the bearing was supposed to seat against (and confusing me as to why I would have a 25mm spacer for a distance between the 2 bearing faces). It was only when I went back to basics, measured the width of the outer bearing AND the seal to compare them to the seating depth in the carrier that I finally put the "I'm staring at the bleeding obvious" glasses on. The shelf was in fact a perfectly sheared piece of the
old bearing's outer race. Yep, the one that detonated and started this whole resto years ago.
So, if it is of any assistance to drum brake equipped owners, there
IS indeed a spacer that sits between the 2 bearings within the sprocket carrier, as shown by item 28 in the schematic above.
I can't believe I made that mistake...
Thanks for all of the replies regardless, and here's a couple of close out shots of the villain and re-assembled item (featuring one of BH's tasty sprockets - yeah, not original, but pretty all the same!)
Cheers again for all the replies, tips and assistance,
Tom
After a bit of Dremel action to cut reliefs into the residual case, it was on with the pilot bearing puller
The nicks from the Dremel caused the bearing case to break apart (I couldn't get enough purchase on the remnant to use the press)
And here is the spacer, about to be butted neatly between 2 new bearings as intended
Finally, back together, shiny sprocket installed, and said buffoon onto the next impending disaster!
