Steve, i can see where you are comming from but all the gearboxes i have done have had both discs fitted with the inside depression facing the bearing giving a gap round the outer bearing race. I have also wondered about this as really there is no seal at all. Examining the washers if they were fitted the other way round as you suggest then surely there would be witness marks where the mating surfaces rubbed. None of my gearboxes i have done have had these marks, it doesn't really matter now if we are fitting sealed bearings. Both washers still have to be fitted to make sure the sleeve gear and gearbox sprocket are positioned correctly.
One another note about sealed bearings, i am just in the process of renewing a unbranded sealed bearing i fitted around 5 years ago. This bearing has started to leak even when stationary, the bearing feels fine but the seals have given up. We have had a discussion about removing the inner rubber seal but this bearing was fitted with both seals fitted. All i can say is fit a quality branded bearing i have just ordered a SKF but the question is do i remove the inner seal?
