If the crank was reground, the machine shop likely washed the crank in a hot cabinet and any lube in that bearing/bushing will be gone. In case you didn’t already know, those tractors with the dual clutch pressure plate assembly also usually have a gear shift lever used to engage and disengage the pto gear train. The pto clutch is only to be used when that lever is shifted otherwise severe release bearing wear and crankshaft thrust bearing wear occurs. I saw that happen on a customer’s little Fiat made tractor. It wiped out the crankshaft thrust bearing and damaged the block. The owner was not happy. He knew how to operate it but his son forgot
I was wondering why a PTO clutch used far less than a tranny clutch would be worn out and you got that one right. My suspicion was that someone had left the clutch lever half-engaged or something like that. Didn't know about the importance of the shift lever (540-N-1000) being in neutral (haven't done much Op-Man reading yet).
Otherwise, I took the day and removed the clutch, intent on checking out the piece and more than prepared to to replace it. Just as I remembered it was NOT loose at all, but I cleaned it and really fingered it deep enough to feel partly exposed roller pins so it is a needle-bearing. Not only that but it's like new (probably new) with next to no lash and the ID is barely bigger than the shaft-end it receives. So my hunch is that the machine shop who did the crank simply replaced it though it doesn't appear on their quoted crank service 'routine'. I re-oiled it and even left a dab of grease in there before re-installing the clutch now
for the 3rd time so I should have THAT drill down pat!
As far as the release bearings I got these prices, ordered the LUK editions
04383378
LUK (Germany) : 73,85 USD
SACHS (Germany) : 50 USD
KAWE (Netherlands) : 37,73 USD
04383379
LUK (Germany) : 122,85 USD
SACHS (Germany) : 122,15 USD
KAWE (Netherlands) : 70,77 USD
No name : 44,45 USD
I should have them in a week or little more. Normally I would have bought cheap ones but a tractor-split is not an an everyday task. I had borrowed a long-reach wheel-puller but even that wasn't long enough, so I made 6 extensions for it and will return them with the kit as a token of appreciation
Both bearings pulled off quite easily, which means they will also go back on easy. The other method would require pulling 4 split-pins with only 1/8" of the ends exposed. I tried that first but NOT A CHANCE.