[NeighborsComplaint]

First off, what you did was just dumb. You never ever force precisely machined parts.

Were I in your shoes. I’d try the new cap with the old bearing on the motor. Clean the bearing and crank journal with brake clean and apply a light coat of machinist’s blue on the lower bearing half. Install the bearing half dry in the new cap and install it on the motor. Use light taps with a dead-blow hammer to seat the cap and torque the bolts to spec.

Spin the crank slowly with a toque wrench and note and binding by turning in 1/4 turn revolutions. Run through a couple revolutions. Your torque wrench and the resistance you feel will tell you if the crank is tight from misalignment.

Remove the main cap and look for any contact pattern that confirms misalignment (blueing rubbed off in an even band). If all is good, clean off the blue, libe the bearing and reassemble.

Also, take care installing the old bearing in the new cap. It may not press right in as it may have spread slightly when the cap broke but not badly enough that a couple light taps on the top of the cap with the mating surface on flat sheet steel wouldn’t seat it.

It’s not perfect but it could save you a rebuild and potentially run a long time.