George;

That has been my experience with the pins also...with the springs holding pressure out on the keyed washer, they stay in place just fine...the pin lengths of generic (ie Bendix) replacement kits available vary quite a bit, but they did have a kit with lengths similar to the originals.

Arno;

Unless the washers are rusted and/or the keying doesn't hold securely anymore, the system may seem a bit flimsy, but the only time I've seem it fail was when the pin pulled through a rusted washer under spring tension.

Sorry, but I don't know what the minimum ID is for drum (I'll check my references)...IMO, don't machine them without a damn good reason!

Cheers