This could have been in the Grumble thread, but I'm feeling charitable.
Stripped the outer gearbox cover (for the 2nd time in a week) off my 73 Triumph Tiger 750 now that I've got the new gearchange parts that I identified were needed after the first strip down. The gearchange is horrible - a box full of neutrals and it's a bit hit-and-miss as to which gear you get. 1st to 2nd always ends up in 3rd, so you have to go 1st -3rd - 2nd if you want 2nd.
It's a bit of a bug*er getting the cover off as getting off the rh footrest involves accessing a near-inaccessible big nut - but having done this before and worked out what configuration of spanner was needed ((7/16 Whit since you ask) I found a short, flat ring spanner on Fleabay. It fits perfectly and saves about 10 minutes).
So, gearbox drained (again), cover off, bits dismantled. Drove the gearchange shaft out of the selector mechanism ready to fit a new bit onto the shaft. Bug*er. The keyed hole in the new part is smaller than the shaft. Then I noticed that a previous owner (PO), aka The Gorilla (who'd also welded the two halves of each exhaust pipe together rather than buy the clamp) had fitted a 4sp mechanism to the 5 spd gearbox, and the 4 spd shaft is bigger than the 5 spd would be. Bummer. The fitting of the 4spd mechanism is a well-known bodge by lazy owners who can't be arsed to do the job properly.
Consulted the parts book. No listing for the 5 spd shaft, just the complete mechanism, and yet I could buy the bit that goes on the shaft on its own, so how come they don't list the shaft on its own? They are two separate components of one assembly. I can get the 4 spd shaft, no problem, but the 5 spd isn't listed by anyone that I can find.
So, reassembled the whole lot again.
Will have to ring the suppliers on Tuesday to see if I can get the 5 spd shaft, otherwise it's a complete assembly, and that's a good bit more expensive than the 2 components would be. The suppliers have several tonnes of Triumph parts in stock that they haven't even got around to cataloging a couple of decades after they aquired them from defunct Meriden Triumph motorcycle dealers, so think I'm in with a good chance.
On reflection, should have been a Grumble.