Originally Posted by
JeremyCherfas
Thanks everybody. I think I am going to replace! One good photo -- thanks for the encouragement
Schweinhund -- is enough to persuade me it would be worthwhile. There is a Shimano dealer nearby and I can take the parts to them for an exact replacement. Can't do anything for a week or two anyway, so by then the parts will have arrived.

Put it back together with new grease and ride til your new one comes.
No problems there...