Denny G,
If you think about it, that lower ball bearing needs to be captured as the worm/sector is assembled at the factory, and that little retainer does that.
If the large adjustment nut for that lower bearing were unscrewed and removed, technically that lower bearing could just slip right off the worm. That retainer also could prevent that.
We can both wait for the camera to return from Ocala for the rest of the story!
Stuart
