Assuming it's ok to hijack my own thread, there are a couple of other things that I feel compelled to share in hopes of saving someone from potential headaches.
When someone who has never removed a pilot bearing/bushing googles it for suggestions, they will find a lot of posts showing both conventional ways with the proper pulling tools and some unique and creative ways that do not require a special tool. While I am all for finding ways to do things well using common tools if I can, sometimes it just isn't a smart option.
Many of the more modern crankshafts, like mine for instance, have a sort of freeze plug in the end of them. My guess is that the crank has oil passages machined in it from the end and the plug seals them.
Therefore the cavity that accepts the pilot bearing /bushing is not a blind hole that deadheads into solid metal.
One of the methods that would work fine in blind hole, solid end crank is to fill the cavity with grease, then insert an alignment tool or spare input shaft and then hammer on it to force the bearing out via hydrostatic pressure.
I'm pretty sure that would NOT be a good method to use on cranks like mine because it probably would not be a good thing to inadvertently dislodge or move that "freeze plug".
Hope this picture helps you see what I'm talking about
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