Deejay, I think you only need the two reel bearings to both be in the same condition rather than perfect condition, and you have to be consistent between the two as to whether you push them down or lift them up to take up the clearance. If they are a bit worn, you might use a thicker shim than 0.002" (or better still, replace the bearings), to make sure the reel does not contact the bedknife. Obviously you also have to check that the bedknife is square to the frame, with the usual alignment tool, to get even cutting depth across the mower. Since you adjust clearance by moving the bedknife, if you find the knife is out of square to the mower frame when it has even clearance to the reel, you have to move one side of the reel with the slotted adjustment on one of the reel bearings, but that should be a once-and-for all alignment adjustment until the next time you have the reel ground. I think by the second or third time you did it the process would not be much harder than adjusting an SB45, but I agree you would not get quite such a precise adjustment by using a shim as you can get by feel. However, remember that John Deere recommends the shim method for their greens mowers.
Jason are you sure that roller-end is zinc, not aluminium? From the look of it it could be either. Epoxy will work on either one, but there should be a more permanent solution.
