Gearbox Issue -Help needed!

[VadMan]

Hi All,

We are having problems with my Mum's MK1 MX5 - the gearbox/gearchanges seem to be very stiff, especially in the cold. The gears just do not seem to slot into place easily.

Once everything is up to working temperature, it seems fine. This is happening is all gears not just 1st and reverse (signs of a worn clutch), which leads me to think its something to do with linkage or Oil?

Has anyone every experienced this or can help solve the issue?



Thanks!

[TwistingMyMelon]

Changeing gearbox oil helped on 3,4,5th changes

Changing rubber bushes on actual gear lever helped a lot, common issue

[johnnyboy666]

+1 Common issue, if the gear change gets all tight then it's a case of cahnging the shifter boots and changing the oil whilst you are at it. Lots of guides on this one and the shifter boot kit is about £40 from mx5 parts.

John

[VadMan]

Thanks for your help!

It should be getting done on Monday.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Shifter boots thats what I meant there are a few guides to the job online!! 1st to 2nd being notchy is usually the result of this!! Plus as you change the boots from inside the cabin you dont need to roll around on the floor swearing a lot!

Gearbox oil is easy if you have a proper lift and hydraulic pump device. I decided to do it on un equal axle stands with a turkey baster..... Got the oil in the box in the end but it took hours of hand pumping away and lots of wasted oil on my garage floor!!

[Oldandslow]

+1 for boot and turret oil

[Scottydon]

That's handy to know folks.
Mine seems to be having the same issue as the OP.

Will have a look into it.
Cheers

[dylan0451]

has anyone tried replacing the whole gear lever? i notice mine has a notch worn into the ball part from years of use, but i'm reluctant to give mx5parts £60 or go down the scrappy if it makes little or no difference

[MX-5 Lazza]

There should be a nylon cup on the ball. Is that missing?

[dylan0451]

nylon cup was still there - though i replaced it with the included mx5parts parts one while i was replacing the gaiters

i meant the bigger pivoting ball further up - mine had some scoring on it. that said, thinking about it, when the box has been hot the shift action has been great so maybe i'll give MT90 a go before considering replacing the box

[Odie]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Shifter boots thats what I meant there are a few guides to the job online!! 1st to 2nd being notchy is usually the result of this!! Plus as you change the boots from inside the cabin you dont need to roll around on the floor swearing a lot!

Gearbox oil is easy if you have a proper lift and hydraulic pump device. I decided to do it on un equal axle stands with a turkey baster..... Got the oil in the box in the end but it took hours of hand pumping away and lots of wasted oil on my garage floor!!

I had similar problems changing my gearbox oil, ended up swallowing a load of it too.

In the end i bought a a long piece of clear pipe and threading it down through the engine bay into the gearbox filler. It is an easy job just a pain if you dont know what your doing, i must have wasted a good litre of oil doing it.

[OnlyMX5ives]

Without wishing to single out anyone person...

I keep seeing this on the Net and its complete BS.

How the hell can the rubber boots that only serve to:

1) keep air/ heat/ noise out the cabin
2) keep dirt / water out of the turret

Have ANY effect on shift quality ?

Answer - they DON'T.

What everyone does is top up the turret when changing them which may have an effect (as may changing the nylon bushes).

If you only change the rubber boots then any effect you feel is 100% placebo.

The biggest change is switching to a good synthetic oil in the box.

[dylan0451]

i assumed that what people meant by 'changing shifter boots' - sucking out and replacing the old, burnt sludge in the turret and replacing with new. i only even found it was a service thing from the hugely excessive heat coming through the gear gaiter

i hear on similar g'box shift designs people fill the turret with grease, my mate looked quite surprised (perhaps even amused) when i told him i'd filled the turret with gearbox oil

Edited by dylan0451 on Tuesday 2nd February 13:09

[MX-5 Lazza]

You can put any oil you want in there - even veggie oil if you like.

[dylan0451]

i just wondered if it would smooth the shift action if something thick like grease was put in there. obviously, if it solidified or something you'd be pretty buggered trying to suck it out with a turkey baster

[OnlyMX5ives]

No.

TBH it rarely makes much difference whats in there. The turret is a simple mechanism, the quality of the shift is down to the gearbox which is separate from the turret.

[JFReturns]

Check clutch fluid level - the reservoir is to the top left of the engine bay as you look towards it. If (as was the case with my '5) the slave cylinder fails / is failing, then the gear change quality will reduce....

[skinny]

OnlyMX5ives said:

Without wishing to single out anyone person...

I keep seeing this on the Net and its complete BS.

How the hell can the rubber boots that only serve to:

1) keep air/ heat/ noise out the cabin
2) keep dirt / water out of the turret

Have ANY effect on shift quality ?

Answer - they DON'T.

What everyone does is top up the turret when changing them which may have an effect (as may changing the nylon bushes).

If you only change the rubber boots then any effect you feel is 100% placebo.

The biggest change is switching to a good synthetic oil in the box.

i would actually think that the main job of the booties (lower one anyway) is to keep the turret oil in.

however, in this case, i'd agree that the issue is probably gear oil - get a decent synthetic in there

Edited by skinny on Wednesday 3rd February 11:47

[bluetone]

OnlyMX5ives said:

I keep seeing this on the Net and its complete BS.

How the hell can the rubber boots that only serve to:

1) keep air/ heat/ noise out the cabin
2) keep dirt / water out of the turret

Have ANY effect on shift quality ?

Answer - they DON'T.

What everyone does is top up the turret when changing them which may have an effect (as may changing the nylon bushes).

If you only change the rubber boots then any effect you feel is 100% placebo.

Nope I can't agree with you on that. My shift boots were both worn and indeed the top one was split - replacing them made the shift action less notchy because of course they exert some pressure against the gear lever as you shift. So from my point of view, this does help.

Quality of oil in the box is of course going to make the most difference but to say changing your old shift boots has no effect is, in my humble opinion, incorrect.

[OnlyMX5ives]

bluetone said:

OnlyMX5ives said:

I keep seeing this on the Net and its complete BS.

How the hell can the rubber boots that only serve to:

1) keep air/ heat/ noise out the cabin
2) keep dirt / water out of the turret

Have ANY effect on shift quality ?

Answer - they DON'T.

What everyone does is top up the turret when changing them which may have an effect (as may changing the nylon bushes).

If you only change the rubber boots then any effect you feel is 100% placebo.

Nope I can't agree with you on that. My shift boots were both worn and indeed the top one was split - replacing them made the shift action less notchy because of course they exert some pressure against the gear lever as you shift. So from my point of view, this does help.

Quality of oil in the box is of course going to make the most difference but to say changing your old shift boots has no effect is, in my humble opinion, incorrect.

So you're saying that the pressure needed to move a flexible piece of rubber (ie bugger all) via a heavy metal lever can be felt by you ?

And you think adding an insignificant pressure, reduces notchyness in the gearbox.



I have some snake oil I'm selling, it will cure everything and anything including cancer and gearboxes - want to buy some ?

Edited by OnlyMX5ives on Wednesday 3rd February 12:31