water pump bearings

[gwcrim]

Saga for this week.  I'm still having trouble getting the clutch cover on.  The new kick start spring helped for sure but it almost feels like the water pump gears are not wanting to fit together.  So as I'm looking at it, I notice that the impeller bearing on the inside is loose in the case.  So loose it may have spun.  The bearings are sloppy but still run smooth and look otherwise OK.

I suppose I can peen the bore to snug it up but how on earth did it get loose in the first place?  Anyone else ever have this issue?

[sandblaster]

Sometimes I have to fiddle with my clutch cover a bit to get it on.
It may help to wiggle your impeller a bit.

[Twosmokerfan]

Also keep an eye on the plastic bit that sits on the top of the gear shifter. It is white and can sometimes not allow the cover to sit down flush. The previous owner of my bike tightened the cover down with the bolts and cracked the cover down near the shifter.

[gwcrim]

But why would the bearing be so loose in the bore?

[sandblaster]

That's a good question.
I've never seen any of mine ever worn out like that and I have had a few.
Normally I would think of a bad shaft, bad coolant, bad balancing, bad bearings.... but who really knows.
Perhaps some others here have experienced the same thing?