--I'm having a little trouble visualizing the problem so take my
suggestiong with a grain of salt but could you not blacken the shaft with
lampblack and pour a babbit bearing in place?

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : Politics is a sinkhole for
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : people without hobbies...
www.nmpproducts.com
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---