I guess i would need to put some locktite too because I can remove the bearing with my finger, but there is no play though.
I was thinking getting it welded with the old bearing in place (or maybe even get a steel piece machined longer because with the bearing it could have some welding over it and it would be difficult to revove it after) so the hole won't distort and it would need no machining after I remove it. What do you think?
I have had my cases welded and they do weld easily. Use 4043 fill rod as castings are usually high in silicon. Having the old bearing in there is a good idea- the aluminum shouldn't stick to it.
Have a back up plan to get a new case halve though.
to weld that part of the case its gotta be baked in the oven for a couple hours to get the oil out of it, otherwise it looks like birdshit and gets the black crusty garbage spattering out of it. The good thing is that theres nothing close so its not like you have to weld it shallow or machine it flush after. i've tried welding it with the bearing in place too, but when you flip the case it falls out anyways. I channel the casting so its only .100" or so left and build the rest.
usually theres a crack starting to go up from the kicker spindle hole too, check for that, and the retaining tab will be broken