Needle bearing problems Tecumseh

[boat21]

Working in a Tecumseh AH520-1602 Snow thrower and SNOWS coming. When I pulled apart the crank to deglaze cylinder I took out just the loose Needle bearings (left the seal in) that holds the crank in the block housing. I fooled with loose bearing before but this is crazy. I applied 30 weight oil for bearings to stick in but I can’t get them straight in the bearing housing They just slide sideways and don’t get to the top of the arc/ perpendicular to the bearing race hard to hold with a screwdriver and don’t want to scratch the inside bearing race

The came out easy with by using a magnetic screw drive and basically fell out. So why is it so hard to get them straight back into their bearing housing????

With bearing still in housing I used 30-weight oil so needle will stay in and started with one bearing and it was at an angel. So I thought Id just get the first bearing relatively straight perpendicular to the housing but I can’t even get one straight. I'm using the old orgnial bearings, I do have the correct bearing there the ones with the point ends. I maybe thought I switched with the connecting rods bearing but they are blunt ends and a tad shorter.

I Tried to hold (with a small screw driver) on the top end and to slide the bottom end so I can start with one needle bearing perpendicular and build from there. But it almost seems the lengths are a tad too long. I can see where the needle end should be inside the rubber and need ti gently force them /one in but cant get them straight.
I thought of pulling out the seal but not sure which way to pound out not to mention afraid of ruining the seal and snows coming,

What’s the Trick???

[bgsengine]

no trick - use petroleum jelly - vaseline just enough of a dab or strip around the crankpin and some patience, a steady hand, the vaseline will tak the needle in place while you fit up the rest , and then install rod and cap. - need to keep crank and bearings cold enough to not melt the vaseline though

[boat21]

Hi fellas I figured it out had the wrong needle bearings The bearings with the points are for the connecting rods figured this out from one of the PDF files you all gave to me before showing the points in the needle for the pistion

Again thanks for the previous help