Needle bearing joint

[dang]

I was just swapping my chain and bar out on my 385xp and I went ahead and took a look at my needle bearing to see how it was doing, and I noticed it had a joint in the cage (Cage=what the little needles ride in) kinda like fused together. At first I thought it was broke/split but I am not sure. This bearing looks just like a wristpin bearing for a piston. I have never noticed a joint on a wristpin bearing cage. I was wondering if anyone elses clutch bearing looks like this. Also the bearing works fine no heat marks or scoring.

 

[Crofter]

My guess is you are seeing the resistance welded seam of the tube which the cage is punched out of. This application is not nearly as high speed or critical as a wrist pin.

 

[dang]

Thank you