I am getting to be a little bit of an expert on this topic (not by choice).
-I have tried the wedge. It wasn’t until i had the shaft out of the sled clamped to a bench where I could bring on the torque and see the gripping power it had on the bearing. Even at 60 ft lbs, it was barely holding the bearing on. This was back in 2018-2020. Didn’t work.
- then i tried having the shaft built up and pinned, and the bearing notched. This lasted two seasons and eventually the pin was ground down and pulverized. and the shaft started spinning.
- then I tried the bearing with the long collar and set screws. Barely 2000km on it and its spinning.
The Hi Tech solution just concedes there is movement likely via flex and allows the tunnel and bearing to slip on the shaft. It lubricates both the inner and outer bearing that support the drive shaft - so there is no grinding and shaft degradation. If you don’t like the sound of this. Ask yourself if the chain case bearing slips - 100% it does. The only reason it doesn’t grind down is it’s bathed in oil. I have tested my shaft with 15,000km on it and the dimensions on the chain case side do not degrade.
The guys that have built there shaft up and press the bearing on have claimed to have good results. The only thing I question is beating the caliper assembly with the bearing - onto the shaft. It’s one thing to press a bearing onto a shaft, It’s another to hammer it on with a pipe (presumably). Getting it off - your gonna need a puller. It it corrodes on the shaft it will be lots of fun getting it off. I am of the belief that if there is no movement that rigidity is going to show up somewhere else. Likely the rivets that hold the tunnel together or where the tunnel fastens to the bulkhead.
Sorry for the winded response. Ron is great to chat with and very knowledgeable about the product. He can cite the testing they have done which sounds extensive. I look forward to this being the last time I have this apart.
MS