[Greg Needel]

The thickness of the plate is a factor of making the sun gear interface correctly into the transmission AND the mounting of the CIM motor. If that plate were to be .25 instead of the .188 the press distance on the CIM would have to be adjusted and would most likely cause interference with the end of the CIM output shaft hitting the second stage in the planetary.

If you have the ability to cut a relief why can't you just make the plate to the proper thickness?