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The front bearing was pretty snug in the case when I popped it out. I had to heat the case and tap it from the back with a long socket wrench extension. The inside of the bearing seat on the case did have some black residue, as did the outside race of the bearing. After cleaning the residue out of the seat on the case, the surface there doesn't really show and signs of the bearing rotating, but the surface is slightly pitted.

The crank has a shiny spot about 1/4 of the circumference of the shaft in the area where it sits in the bearing, and the bearing has a similar sized area of discoloration. To me, this doesn't look like a wear area though, more like a chemical (fuel?) laying in there and etching the metal. Both areas have an irregular shape and no directional abrasions.

Does the absence of grease in the bearing mean anything, or is that just normal?

The crank/bearing alignment method that you suggested sounds a little out of my league. I only have a three jaw chuck, and I'm not sure I can make a true bore...I'm not sure what a true bore is!... I'm assuming it is a threaded sleeve that will go over the threads and allow me to chuck that end of the crank in the lathe.

I have't removed the main bearing yet, Could I use it and the crank to align the new front bearing when I install it? Then after the nose bearing is in, remove the main bearing and replace it?

Lastly, the Loctite 648 that you mention, will it allow me to remove the bearing in the future if I need to do this again?

Again, thanks for you help.

KMac