BN: I think I've got the lurgy. This has prevented me from seeking grout and waste fittings with non-age-hardened gaskets and such.
BN: Barakta's Thunderbirds-effect uppy-downy desk malfunctioned, with one side failing in the 'down' capacity. After failed attempts at turning it off and on again etc, we removed the top[1] in an attempt to apply persuasion to the left-side lifting column without it being under load. Long story short, the linear actuator self-destructed, and I'm now looking at an armature, some very strong magnets, and a deeply suspicious circlip. I'm not sure how I could further dismantle the motor in order to correctly align the brushes on reassembly, but I'm reasonably sure that putting it back together afterwards involves a hydraulic press.
GN: It's got a 5 year warranty, with about 2 weeks left on it.
BN: This involves dealing with Posturite, a company whose general uselessness strikes fear into the heart of barakta in her professional capacity.
GN: I've found a supplier for the relevant part, if that doesn't work out.
BN: Wrong colour (it's an obsolete model) and the best part of £400
[1] Incompetently, causing assorted minor injuries that I'll undoubtedly feel in the morning. Fortunately the heavy bit landed on my knee, rather than barakta's arms.