[Mr. Ivey]

They were made like that for a reason. Look at the shaft from last year, and look at this year's shaft. This year's shaft is a lot nicer, it's set like a gear shaft in a car or something to that extent. The reason it's so hard to get a bearing on there is because they need to be pressed on there by a bearing press, and pulled off by a bearing puller. You can get the puller at a NAPA or another auto shop. To press them, get a piece of soft wood and a big hammer. Find a work bench with a hole drilled in it that's bigger than the shaft, but smaller than the bearing, or something of the liking. Tap the shaft into the bearing using a rubber hammer until it's just fitted inside of the bearing. Then center the shaft and the bearing over the hole in the bench. Place the soft wood over the other end of the shaft (the one that's pointing up), then slowly drive the shaft through the bearing to a spot that you have marked. Be sure to hit the piece of wood exactly where the shaft is on the other side. Go very slow and be very exact. This is what I have done to get the bearings on, to get them off, I just get my puller out of my mechanics tools at home.
Hope that helps.
ivey