Hard to engage 6th gear

[CoachOz]

6th gear in my Series 2 NB has suddenly become hard to engage. Sometimes it goes in quite smoothly and at other times it just won't engage and I have to go back to 4th, then 5th then 6th. Any suggestions as to what might be the problem?

[Old Dude]

Don't know if this is any help, but I had similar problem tweny years ago. it turned out a castelated washer in the gearbox was loose alowing the nut to come loose and things inside the gearbox to move around from time to time. It was a 5 speed and eventually I couldn't get it into 5th or reverse.
At that point we pulled the box out and found the problem.
As a suggestion try and double shuffle it into gearf if that works its probably your Syncro on 6

Cheers
dale

[93_Clubman]

Given it's easy to check, it would be worth removing the console on top of the transmission tunnel, outer & inner gear lever boots (which allows their condition to be checked), & the gear lever assembly to check the condition of the plastic cup that fits over the end of the base of the gear lever assembly. The plastic ones can wear & affect gear changes. Can be replaced with an OEM plastic one or brass one for the 6 speed. Other than that in terms of lines of least resistance, how long/ how many kms since gearbox oil changed?

[CoachOz]

Thanks for the suggestion. Interestingly, the problem manifested after the gearbox oil was changed

[93_Clubman]

Interestingly, the problem manifested after the gearbox oil was changed

ok - do you know what new oil was used, i.e. brand & grade?

[CoachOz]

I'll find out when I get back from holidays in a couple of weeks