Worm Assembly
Hi Bob. Are the little tabs inside the bore in this image the ones you referred to?
They are there to 'scoop' the balls as they roll up and down inside the worm. That's where the balls leave the worm, recirculate, and go back in. None of the balls spend any time above the top one or below the bottom one. The balls roll up and down in the helix between the two and when they are scooped out, they travel through the little conduit and back into the helix.
1. Insert the screw assembly into the bore assembly.
2. Insert the first ball into one of the ports.
3. Jiggle the the screw. The ball will pretty much fall in.
4. Put more balls in. They will follow the first ball and by now you will need to rotate the screw to make them start to circulate.
5. Rotate the screw and keep feeding balls until the first one appears at the other port, ready to pop out. You have filled up the helix! And you should have seven balls remaining at this point.
6. Note that there won't be any gaps between balls once everything is fully assembled. That means you have to fill up the conduit with balls and insert that as a unit.
7. Pack the two-piece conduit pod with balls and a thick grease. Put the conduit shell together, securing the balls within.
8. Slide the conduit assembly with the balls in it into the bore piece.
9. Ok, now test it -- when you turn the screw, the balls should circulate! You ought to be able to watch the balls traveling through the conduit shells by looking through the little gap!
Remember not to turn the screw too far (more than four rotations) or you will be left with the screw in one hand and a housing full of loose ball bearings in the other. If that happens, just go to step 1 and repeat.
Chances are you're not to this part yet, but I also used grease to stick the many needle bearings in place: