"Monroes book says push the crank forward and then torque the center cap. Is pushing it forward not going to make the bearing rub against the counterweight? Is it supposed to do this?"
First, notice that the center cap has a THRUST BEARING surface on the front and rear sides of the cap where it (should) touch the crank surface
The center main cap contains the thrust bearings (on both sides of the cap)
which limit travel of the crank front-to-back, and it's that point where you should be using feeler gauges, .........unless you use the dial indicator method.
As you stated above, .....pushing the crank forward and torqueing the center cap will set the center cap in it's most forward and stationary position.
THEN.........if you're using the feeler guage method, force the crank backwards and forwards a few times with a prybar to get some movement,
and THEN,.......measure both sides of the center cap clearance with the guages..........
Push it forward - measure the clearance on forward side............
Push it backwards - measure the clearance on the rear side.........
You're looking at a MAX clearance of 0.011..........
Anything OVER that dimension will require shims......
Anything UNDER that dimension will be OK, ..........UNLESS TIGHT ! ! !
To answer your question, will pushing it forward make it rub against the counterweight??, the answer is YES......since the Center Cap Thrust bearing is the GOVERNING FACTOR in setting and maintaining the end play..........
Make Sense ? ? ?
(One other thing, but not to confuse the issue, when prying the shaft forward and rearward, the shaft should stop AGAINST THE CENTER CAP BEARING SURFACE, ..............not somewhere else.)
