play in bk1204 end bearing blocks

[dazza]

ive been messing around trying to cnc this lathe, using these chai bk bearing blocks.
I wish I could go back to the original screws but ive trashed one of the lead nuts,
are they all like that? id like to remove the play in these bearings,i can grab the lathe slide moving it back and fourth and see play when pushing/pulling against the bearings.
doing that square nut up as tight as it can go just resulted in me splitting and spreading the small steel sleeve at the rear see 2nd image.
the play seems to be the centre of the bearings would a washer between the bearings sort this?