[TowerTalk] tower/rotator woes...

[DAVE WRIGHT]

I want to thank everyone for all theinput. The many responses have been quite helpful! :) To keep thisshort I won't quote all the individual responses I wanted to, sosuffice to say:
I have been trying to avoid buying anewer/more expensive rotator due to cost. Been looking hard atthe Yaesu G-2800dx, but I'm not sure IF itwill fit -inside- the top tower section of the Tri-Ex LM354 tower.Has anyone here done that w/the Tri-Ex LM354? I'm thinking the bestway to be sure, will be to remove the rotor plate, & measure.Then take it to local dealer, & measure the G-2800 to confirmrotor plate compatibility. 
OR, I've stillbeen looking at yet another rebuild (can I hear groans out there?)The price of the Yaesu G-2800 here is ~$1430 after local taxes. A lotto spend for someone on fixed income. So, I'm still considering yetanother rebuild of the T2X, replacing the old rotor wire (100'), &adding the Indiom Press unit/to allow automatic brake control, &hands-free operation f/contesting = ~$575. 
About the samecost as going to a -new- Yaesu DX1000 rotor; it's less than 2/3rdsthe cost of the new G2800. Hmmm. What to do, what to do. Stillthinking....ripping me hair out. :)
To respond toseveral questions about the thrust bearing, it's bolted directly tothe top, of the top tower section above rotor. It uses set-screws tofasten itself to the mast. Again I've used 3 bearings in 23 years;the 1sttwo were “open” type w/a grease fitting. Kept lubed liberallyw/marine grease to fight salt air. In desperation, the last one wasstainless steel & “sealed.” Very expensive. Every one hasfailed eventually over time & weathering. 
Several of youmentioned “shimming” the rotor. Do you mean IN the rotor clampitself (mast to rotor clamp of the T2X), or shimming the rotormounting plate? The mast is bolted to the rotor, thus has zero playto the rotor, only “twist” of the mast itself. The rotor -plate-has obvious visual play at the three tower “tubes” built in. Whenthe antenna swings back & forth, you can see it on the outside ofthe three “ears.” 
I've consideredshimming &/or rubber coating the three mounting point “ears,”but not sure if I want to mess with them as that may offset the plateslightly one way or the other, causing the mis-alignment issue I'm soconcerned about. Hmm.... What do you think?
Thank you &73, de Dave K6JOX