Re bearing race to crank, agree 100% about the virtues of loctite - easily up to the task, provided we're really talking a thou or so. While one can peen an OUTER ball- or roller- race into a crankcase relatively well - some engines were built like that for extra security - peening the crank to inner race is not such a great plan in my opinion. Apart from anything else, when next replacing the bearing, the thing will need a good clean up, and could be a looser fit still.
Re shims and measuring, have to say that's one thing I haven't had to do for a bit. But, a dial test indicator is a better beast than a slide gauge (and not too pricey these days) because you can set it up dead square and dead still on one of those (also cheap) magnetic stands, and push/pull the crank from side to side to check the end-float easily, if the engine is bolted to a stand, the bench, or the garage floor. Not that a digital caliper/depth gauge can't do it, it can, it's just that the merest angle or shiver in the operator's hands will give a false reading. Personally, if I had between 0 and 1 thou with things turning freely enough as you describe Richard, I'd be happy with that. After the thing's run a bit, warmed up, cooled down, crankcase joint and nuts and bolts have settled, etc etc, can't be far out. To my mind, the key thing is that everything is pretty free to turn and there's no appreciable float.
Can I just ask, re dpaddock's point on the shock absorber arrangement . . . Given that end-float isn't set with the shock absorber and sprocket in place, there should be no difference in end float with it off or on. Looking at the thing, and given that the sprocket doesn't bear against the crankcase (disaster if it did), I am having trouble seeing why it could cause such dire trouble inside. The spring and its nut don't pull the crank anywhere do they? They just go up tight to the sprocket, outboard and independent of all arrangements on the inside. The crank will move sideways as much and as easily with the s/ab assembly done up to a million ft pds as it will when it isn't there . . . .
Now, unchecked lateral movement of the c/shaft sprocket on its spline would be very bad news, I agree - for just about everything from engine to gearbox via clutch. But to have free movement - even with a worn spring - the s/abs nut would have to have undone itself quite a lot and anyone in earshot as the nut ground out the primary chaincase when it went round would be looking for another planet to live on. Either I am missing something vital here because my brain has faded, or the crankshaft shock absorber spring has no direct effect on the main bearing and its shims or the end-float. Put me out of my misery please someone! Groily