Greg, my replies are attempting stimulate thought, and get you to consider that, you may not be fully aware of some things.
That clutch basket/sprocket, bunch of steel plates, pressure plate, diaphragm spring all orbiting about, known as runout, (nicknamed "wobble") when the clutch is disengaged.
You agree on that part.
When the clutch is engaged, that RUNOUT position is locked in place by the plates.
A random position. The heavy clutch assembly, significantly off center shakes like a whore in church. I've observed it. I can feel it through the footpegs. I regularly "adjust it" while underway to try and get a slightly better chance/random position.
So, the clutch basket bearing ABSOLUTELY affects the clutch runout while engaged.
Best to keep the runout as small as possible. Because it is there while underway, beating up the sleeve gear bushes, and the sleeve gear bearing.
