-Guess I could chop off the acetal "bearings' " excess length, but as they're just an eyesore, and won't interfere with operation - they'll stay.// Lower axle hi torque straight thru from flywheel to tap/ hob, low torque thru the gears just for synchronizing 1/2" Whit screw. App +2500 rpm on the axles with the Elvi running wide open at +4k rpm.// And besides: -Yes, I always wondered why no other builder (I've yet come across) reconsidered Mr V. Vollenhoven's original design from MM March '72: To put the tap at the bottom instead - thus avoiding swarf falling into the worm/ gear axle, and also by widening the worm/ tap c-c distance to facilitate making 3/4"-faced pinions? Remarkable.