Hi Doubleyoupee,

Turboguzzie, cc saintnz,
You're testing my memory.
The pumps: there are 3 pumps to be found in XT600s, in each the oil pump capacity was increased to address issues experienced with enlarging the brilliant XT550 (5Y1)engine to 600cc. The pump rotor was widened from 4mm to 6mm (1VJ) and finally to 8mm (3AJ). All pumps have 18mm scavenge rotors.
The 4mm pump has no marking in front, only 5Y1 on the back, as have all the others.
The other 2 are marked in front 1VJ and 3AJ respectively.
The gears: The 1st and 2nd pumps are physically the same size, so use the same drive gear, a dished gear without any marking, fitted with the dish facing away from engine, if i remember. The shafts on these 2 pumps had a single groove, for the circlip holding the gear in place.
The 3AJ pump, listed under various part numbers, was enlarged to accommodate the final wider pump rotor, and therefore needed the gear to be less dished to meet with it's mate behind the clutch.
Therefore you MUST fit a 3AJ gear with a 3AJ pump.
The shaft of this pump was marked under where the gear sits, with 2 shallow grooves, just as an identifier.
To explain the 3AJ gear being installed in back to front; the gear will fit both ways. It is nearly flat, but installed incorrectly will drive the pump intermittently and result in unreliable oil pressure.
I know, because, in a senior moment, i put that gear in wrong way around when repairing the little screw come loose on gear-change drum pawl. Bike ran like that for about 6 months without a sign. On a day, moving off from a traffic light, it gave 3 distinct consecutive pinks. While wondering 'where that came from' riding with thoughtful care, i felt the engine started to tighten up.
We ride on the left here, and after a quick oil level check, leaning over to the left, i turned the engine over a few times with the kick.
Started the engine to a new slight rattle, and rode home. And rode another +/- 100 while trying to diagnose the tappety noise. Gradually realized what i was going to find.
Happily that was a few years and many thousand km ago. I corrected my mistake, it still has the clatter, but maintains its knee-crunching compression if i get things wrong, and runs up to 160kmh way easier than before.
best,
p