Wabbly gear stick...

[roddclarke]

Hi All,

I have just bought another MX5 this one is a 2001 NB8B in Crystal Blue.. but anyway..

when it is in gear, any gear, you can move the gear leaver about 1 to 2 cm side to side. the gear changes are fine, and i have just replaced the nylon bush thing on the bottom of the gear leaver and it made no difference.

What are your thoughts or ideas on what it could be?? and how to fix it.

thanks

[sliq]

welcome back to the fold mate. didn't think i'd be seeing you in one so soon!

[Steampunk]

check the three bolts that connect the stick to the geabox housing as they can come loose fairly easily.
If they are loose, then a bit of threadlocker and/or spring washer will do the trick

[roddclarke]

thanks.. no those bolts are tight.. i had to undo them and do them up when i did the nylon bush replacement.. so its not them..

although the rubber boot that is held in by those 3 bolts and attaches to the gear shifter is torn.. so i will be ordering a new one of them.. but i dont think a torn boot could cause this issue.. mmm

still to find it..

[Okibi]

The boot will probably be it.

[Garry]

Also check the 4 bolts on the top of the gearstick turret. They would have to be pretty loose to give you that much play but they do have a tendency to work themselves loose.

[roddclarke]

ok, will try that.. i just bought a new boot, the 3 bolt one to the gearbox that was torn..
will fit it tomorrow and let you all know if it works

i hope so

and will also re-tighen all the bolts i find..

[StanTheMan]

your back!!!!!
sweet. You've just been recruited for underbelly3...

[roddclarke]

haha.. underbelly 3 ???

i know im getting fat.. but

[zoomzoom]

Check the little nylon bush at the bottom of the shifter too.

Tim

[Okibi]

... i have just replaced the nylon bush thing on the bottom of the gear leaver and it made no difference...

[Hellmun]

How tight was the shift-bush when you put it in? When I replaced mine it was DAM tight and it's what really reduced the flex left and right on the gearstick. My boots are both torn but then I don't really care so much. It's a track car...it probaly won't have a centre console much longer so there'll be more than enough heat just in the tunnel.

If you can move the stick with it in gear left and right that much then it's not something in the gearbox. It's got to be somewhere in the stick itself so make sure the bush is seated. My boots are torn and it made no difference so it should be unrelated.

So you coming upto the next trackday in May with the new car?

[roddclarke]

Ok, done the boot cover as well and checked it out while the gear stick was out..

the play is on the gearbox or selector shaft.. as i took the gear stick out, and put my finger in the gearbox and could feel the play with my finger in where the Nylon bush sits.

so its something in the gearbox with the selector shaft or somthing.

I will take it to a track day.. but after August...

[Mr Morlock]

Gearbox expert I am not but your gearchange should have the feel of being springloaded ie requires pressure to move to left and right and of course to engage 5th 6th or reverse and whata happens when you select reverse? . I think you will get a fairly fast response by checking one of the pros familiar with gearboxs. Alternatively try a shop manual or even generic trouble shooting.