I decided to install thrust bearings on both sides of the MLG pivot bushing to prevent the metal-metal (bushing to bolt-holder) contact and potential wear and slop in the MLG system. This mod was first described by Dale Alexander in the Builder’s Forum section of Velocity Views 1Q 2004. To accommodate the width of the thrust bearing, I had to grind down the existing steel pivots that have already been glued into the gear legs. Care was taken to grind only enough to fit the bearing in place, and to maintain the position of the gear leg on the pivot bolt (because the retraction mechanism has already been fit). The grinding was followed by fine filing to make sure that the remaining bushing edge was flat and perpendicular to the pivot axis.
After the thrust bearings were installed, the MLG legs moved very smoothly. The side of the fuselage and portions of the gear pockets were trimmed to allow the gear legs to retract fully without interference. Adequate clearance between the gear user legs and the sump tank fittings was verified.
bzvelocity.com 
For the record, looks like you had to grind away slightly more of the bushings than my SE-RG. Must be an XL thing
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Missed the “no leaning sign”. LOL
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I did it too and now found an issue – whine I try to tighten the bolt nut (not too much) the bearings stuck. My best guess is the shaft axis (pivot tube) is not aligned with the bushings (bolt) axis. This works ok when no bearings, but with the bearings it is more critical, so when the nut tightened they stuck due to rotation. I am in a frustration, because I already cut the steel pivots.
Don’t you have this problem? Which torque do you use to tighten the nut?
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