Can anyone help me with a question. I need to remove the gear change lever on my bike (Virago 750 1992)as the weld has broken on the lever pivot pin. Can I take it apart from the ball joint on the linkage or do I have to take it off the selector rod on the case? I managed to drop it the other night! only gently but it cracked the weld. Doh!

Undo the hex bolt that secures the clamp onto the shift shaft, after first marking the position of the slit onto the end of the shaft (tipex so you get it back in exactly the right spot), you have to take the bolt right out before the clamp pulls off as it passes through a groove in the shaft

Remove the circlip and washer from the pivot end of the linkage

Doing it this way means you wont have to faff about adjusting the nuts/turnbuckle

When you refit, copaslip the spline, and grease the pivot pin

Thanks Neversaydie, I wasn't sure if the ball joint just sprung off or if it would strain it.

Doing it this way, you wont have to touch the ball joints.