NB8B Owners - a gearbox Question.

[Mr Morlock]

Nitro comes to some strange conclusions. The analogy about what you do with your leg is irrelevant- whats the connection? . As a left foot braker on an auto I reckon I have better feel than with the right foot and better balance but that's another debate. My 6 spd has no problem at all with the change to 5th. If anyone really wants to understand how technique becomes a real issue or finding no gears where you thought you left it try driving an Austin Healey especially a 3 speeder- this makes MX5's feel like silk purses. Some AH drivers would not have it any other way.

[NitroDann]

The connection is that old habit die hard and many people would dispute that they push the gearstick too hard to the right because they believe that they know how hard they are pushing.

To allow people to prove to themselves that they might not actually be aware how hard they are pushing, they can perform another task within the car to prove that they may actually not be able to detect the effort they are imparting on the lever because of a strongly ingrained habit.

Long story short, IF you push the stick to hard to the right, the complaint being heard in this thread WILL happen every time.

So why not prove to yourself that its possible to make this mistake even if you are voluntarily trying not to push hard.

Dann

[Rocky]

Thanks guys, I've found this discussion very useful as it has caused me to think about some possible causes that I would not have identified otherwise.
The most important thing is that others know what I am on about and have experienced something similar.
I think that whilst it may be partly caused by my tendency to apply a bit too much pressure on the stick to the right, there is no way that is the only cause.
The resistence into the neutral/reverse plane is very weak - and has been that way since new.
The Japs are known for their constant tinkering with components during model runs and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if a 'weak reverse spring' was recognised and replaced in later cars sometime after my car was made.
After the 'enviro clutch' debacle with the 2001 models nothing would surprise me.
As the car has never been molested in any way I am reluctant to disassemble anything to have a look, and frankly wouldn't know what I was looking at anyhow.
I will focus my efforts on making a better 4th to 5th shift. ( I do think a better - spherical - shift knob would help as I have never liked the OE one)

[mazmad]

I too have experienced...'the dead zone'.

Comes from jumping from another 6 speed manual with a slightly wider gate into the mx5 6 speed which has quite a narrow gate.

[Rocky]

Do people think the type of gearknob makes any difference to the way they shift?
My 'ideal' is still the Fiat 124 CC Sport Coupe I owned in the late '70s.
Best gearshift ever and a nice black billiard-ball style knob on a short chrome lever.
I've been tempted to change the knob but the purist in me says leave it stock.

[hks_kansei]

I personally never likes the stock gearknob. It's a terrible shape in my opinion.

I changed mine to a ball style, I have the older version of the Voodoo knob (it's a smaller ball than the current)



I'd actually suggest you change the knob and give it a go, changing the gearknob only takes 2minutes. (screw on, screw off)

[de Bounce]

I personally never likes the stock gearknob. It's a terrible shape in my opinion.
I changed mine to a ball style, I have the older version of the Voodoo knob (it's a smaller ball than the current)
I'd actually suggest you change the knob and give it a go, changing the gearknob only takes 2minutes. (screw on, screw off)

I have drawn the complete opposite opinion.
I replaced the stock knob with a Voodoo and found the round ball less precise with the added problem of the knob amplifying gearbox noises.

The resistence into the neutral/reverse plane is very weak - and has been that way since new.
The Japs are known for their constant tinkering with components during model runs and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if a 'weak reverse spring' was recognised and replaced in later cars sometime after my car was made.

I have a very early NB8B 6sp box and have a heavy "reverse lockout" spring, defiantly know when you are heading into the "dead zone"

Anyone want a hardly used Piano Black Voodoo Knob with the shift pattern engraved in the top, send me a PM!