Once upon a time...

... in France, I happen to destroy a throw out bearing. We lacked the required parts to make a proper fix, so Yvon and another guy welded a little nub on my clutch pushrod end, trapping the hardened washers which now acted as my throw out bearing. And on we went!
The other day I was searching through my vest pockets and came across a brand new throw out bearing which we had ordered back in Holland, about nine months and 7500 miles ago. Oops.
Well, I finally got the new one in there, and I will be honest, that trick is a good one, maybe a little too good!