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I'm after some general advice on the following. The standard 5-speed in the NA8 is becoming quite difficult to put in to gear in certain situations. It has occurred both after long drives and in car parks going from reverse to first among other occasions. The thrust bearing is a little noisy so I'm wondering if that is the culprit. Could it be something worn in the shifter linkages or some other well known issue with these boxes as they get on in ages.

Hopefully not asking the obvious, have you changed the oil in the turret?

Besides the turret oil and linkage/shift boot replacement, throw some Nulon smooth shift with some GL4 based oil (even the cheapy VMX 80) in the box and see if there's any difference.

If not, save up/start searching for a replacement.

If you haven't already, it's worth checking the clutch slave cylinder isn't weeping into its rubber boot.

Thanks guys no I haven't changed the oil in the gearbox although this may have been done at time or roadworthy which was less than a year ago. An additive might be a good idea actually. Yes I have checked the slave cylinder it doesn't appear to be leaking and is functioning as normal.

Hi Kurt

Maybe have a look at these YouTube clips

They explain the turret oil service, and the other lockout mechanisms in the gearbox.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=biBjZhmkxZc

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ANRaTCqL4DE

Hope this helps

James

When I bought my MX5 it had a full factory service history.
Apparently that didn't seem to include flushing the clutch fluid.
My car had the same symptoms as yours. I flushed the (possibly 150k old) gravy like substance that used to be hydraulic fluid and it shifts properly now.

10 dollars for a bottle of dot4.
cheap fix.