Is it common practice for people to remove these completely from running motors after they experience a failure?  Two out of the three I have on hand didn't have them installed.  They were complete, intact motors when I got them however, all are not running and I haven't had any of them going yet. 

Only time I,ve heard of them being removed is if the crank was taken apart and the rod shimmed on the big end.
But I,m sure some have just tossed the shims and ran without.Can,t say I like the sounds of it especially long term.