Thrust bearing on hydra-drive?

[aconsola]

What's the point of the thrust bearing on the hydra-drive setup?
The outer part of the hydra where the thrust bearing contacts is keyed to the shaft, so it cannot rotate with respect to the shaft/spring/fixing screw.
If anything, it would make more sense to have a thrust type bearing between the 2 halves of the hydra as the impeller and outer case spin entependantly of each other.

I can see the obvious reason for the thrust bearing on the slipper-only setup as the outer face of the gear where the bearing seats can rotate with respect to the shaft.

is there something I'm missing? Any reason not to replace the thrust bearing with a spacer?

[Bongo Fury]

I'm with you, don't see the need for the thrust bearing either. Or a spacer for that matter, I just screw the nut on further.

About all I can see is its a handy place to store the bearing if you want to drop the Hydra quickly.