Well,
if it's a cast-iron case,and if you're not gonna beat on it;then I take it back about fabricating a bushing for the front, and especially if it's hard to find a machine shop up there in Anchorage.
As to the brass; the points on them are not a normal wear item. I think they could have a hundred thou on them and show little to no wear on the points. The brass wears on the inside where, installed, you can't see it. Eventually they get so worn, the brass rides further and further towards the base of the cone and one of three things will happen;
A) the slider can no longer apply pressure to the brass, and it will no longer slow the gear down,and the clutch teeth take a beating. or
B) the struts will flip out and you'll be stuck in that gear, or
C) the brass will jump over the strut and spin along with the gear. When that happens, IDK, cuz I never wait that long........But I imagine it will be very difficult to engage that gear, and it will require a great deal of grinding,unless you learn to double clutch it with a high degree of accuracy, but mostly the clutch teeth will take a beating,again,and the struts will probably pop out.
