Petroleum Jelly - Pilot Bearing?
 

Petroleum Jelly is common in the build process (holding coolant seals, etc) with varying opinions of its use and affects. -- Mazda ships their remans with the pilot bearing packed with petroleum jelly, lots of it, a solid palm full.

I don't have concerns with it, certainly not for the pilot bearing. It can cause seal swell on the coolant seals, but that is only an issue if you aren't installing them immediately.

In this application the pilot bearing is supplied with engine oil (hence the oil seal installed after the bearing). The petroleum jelly is just there for the initial startup until oil pressure is built up.

No it isn't and there is no oil seal for the pilot bearing.

http://manual.rotarycars.ru/images/BHE0110T007.png

I may have been mistaken on the oil supply, but there is most definitely a seal. The Mazda PN 11-4041. Maybe the seal is to keep clutch debris out rather than to keep oil in.

Spot on, keeps debris out. I apologize as I didn't intend my original statement to come off as harsh as it did; I just wrote it quickly while in transit to another obligation.

No worries. I interpreted your comment as there was no seal at all. But now I see that you were just saying that it was not an oil seal. All good man.

When I install a new pilot bearing, I ensure the needle bearings are greased appropriately and I apply a light coat of grease on the body to aid in install. I like to use a high temp synthetic grease to coat the needle bearings. I've been doing this for many years on RX-7's and RX-8's without an issue. The seal should also be replaced as you are aware and it helps prevent the bearing from losing grease around the input shaft and does help to keep contaminants such as clutch disc dust out of the pilot bearing.

mazdaverx7 do you use an NGLI moly lube (<20%) or do you use a high moly stick paste like Honda Super Moly 60 > 60%? I've been using the Honda Moly 60 for years on the splines for motorcycle shafts and any high pressure wear parts on motorcycles. I see it is discontinued now and I have only 1 tube left.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...255df6a1a6.jpg

I have not tried the Honda brand moly grease but it looks to be good stuff. I use Redline CV-2: https://www.redlineoil.com/cv-2-grease