I just finished a top to bottom teardown of my 7x12, shimming, checking, re-checking, testing, everything was juuuuust right. I decided to finally make the new hand wheels I have been planning and when I started facing off a piece of 3" 6061 the popping started in my headstock. I am afraid I have a gear going out. I didn't inspect them when I had the headstock off last week, just a cursory check for chips, a dab of white lithium, and I put it back together. I am wondering about the ups and downs of replacing the plastic gear with metal. Anyone done it? And, if I am going to all the trouble to replace the main gear I might as well do a bearing job while I'm at it, right? I have not had any bearing related issues yet but appreciate the benefits of converting to tapered roller bearings. Should I just bite the bullet and do it?