...ok, so I will respond to my own post, maybe for the aid of future generations...
Although I could not see or detect any gapping between the bearing housings and center section as others have noted, I found a couple appropriately sized sockets and a fairly heavy mallet and gave it all I dared. (sort of damaging the surfaces) It seems to have eliminated a lot of what I was experiencing.?
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?However, curious as I am, I took the RA center housing assy to work and put it on the surface plate to discover that, end to end, there is a .004" difference (call it out? of parallel) across a 2 inch diameter surface. Being less than thrilled at this finding, I dug up an old arbor press, plenty big enough to fit the assembly and sockets so I have a go when I get chance, fingers crossed.
J
photon_trap