Hey Terry, perhaps you're right but this creative stuff is all in the mind
I think
I have assembled, disassembled, made adjustments so many times I think i'm wearing out the bearings but almost there now. The small shaft with the gear is the final part of the fabrication. I have to get a disc welded to the end and it's not something I can do. The particular steel is called "EN36A" and is wonderful to work with and can then be hardened anywhere and depth required. The piece that needs to welded on the end is also the same material as I found out that if it is not compatible it will fail and the welding process is extremely specific and not within my ability. It must be welded with special rods, heated to 600-650deg, covered in some kind of sand with regulated cooling. As this small shaft it the final drive "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION"
and not a time to cut corners. Anyway, it will be off to the specialty welders tomorrow, get it back Monday, off to the heat treaters Tuesday, get the parts back some time next week then it will be the final assembly, engine, tracks and so on.