Almost shy to ask a shim question here, having read so much on it, written so much on it, and been given so much good advice. Nonetheless, I don't recall this question being asked by me or anyone else, and if it has, there is too much info to sift through to find it.
Question is: Should we target an allowance for the minimum amount of side play before installing shims? I want to tell my machinist to dress the face of the new T.S. bushing so the crank is not locked up when the cases are assembled. I don't think it would be good if the play (without shims) was, say, 0.004". That would mean the shim (or shim stack) might be just 2-3 thou thick. Arguments for specially machined thick shims seem to support the notion that such a thin shim, by itself, is a recipe for shim destruction. ("Well, Richard, if you get your bearing on right, tight to the web and with the shim sandwiched between and (maybe) Loctited, the shim should be fine, you dummy." Then I say, "Well, yes it should, so why bother with custom-made thick shims?")
Any thoughts?
Richard L.