3rd Gear issue.

[rossint]

Thats what I've been doing, I loose less time with a slow change than rolling along in neutral trying to find 3rd. One interesting thing is that if I find 5th at that RPM it grinds, when it first happens I thought I'd hit reverse.
Thinking back now, when I changed the boots 2 years ago I'm think I only changed the top one so it's possible the bottom one is shot. The other thing I changed was the plastic bush to a brass one so maybe thats deteriorated now as well.

[Benny]

I also used to have a problem finding 3rd gear on the track, and what I found out was that it was the way I changed gear and had nothing to do with the gearbox itself.

Remember that there is heavy springing on the 3rd/4th plane and instead of trying to find where 3rd is, just use an open palm and push the gearlever up, and it will magically find 3rd gear all by itself.

It's so easy when under lateral G forces, that you wrong slot the gears, but if you just use an open palm for all 3rd and 4th gear changes, you won't have any problems.

You have to trust the spring, and when you do, you'll find it so much easier to find 3rd every single time.
I also have a short shifter in my car, and trusting the spring is even more important as there is a lot less spacing between the planes of the shifter.

If you need first or second, remember to push against the spring, as you would for 5th and 6th.
But if you want to go into 3rd or 4th, just push the lever up or down and don't try to find the gate by yourself.

[greenMachine]

Good advice Benny

[rossint]

I also used to have a problem finding 3rd gear on the track, and what I found out was that it was the way I changed gear and had nothing to do with the gearbox itself.

In 2 years of owning the car I've never had a problem finding 3rd, I subscribe to what you've said and 3rd and 4th would always find themselves. Somethings changed recently and I'm relatively sure it's not me, but hey I've been wrong in the past

[clubman7]

I struggle with third sometimes just due to engine movement on the mounts.
Happens when coming out of a right hand corner.
Think the mounts may be fairly soft.
Like mentioned, stiffer engine mounts may be a good idea stopping the engine and gerabox maving around too much.

[93_Clubman]

MazdaSpeed offer a stiffer engine & diff mount & Corksport in US are about the most competitively priced: http://www.corksport.com/90-97-miata/na ... ain-parts/

[NitroDann]

If you never actually grasp the stick you will find it much easier to find all gears, the gates are designed to go in in their own time and through their own path as has been said above, but one of the 2nd to 3rd change problems is that when you push the clutch in the engine and gearbox twists back into place significantly and this twist makes it even harder for you to know where 3rd gear is as this twist moves the gearstick left and right. harder mounts, which are easy to replace, slower changes and not grasping the stick should solve your issue.

Dann

[rossint]

Just a bit of an update, over the last couple of weeks I've refilled the box with redline MT90, replaced the lower boot on the shifter and today I gave the clutch a good bleed. I think the box is starting to show it's age but each of these things helped improve the feel of the shift. I've got supersprints next weekend so we'll see if it's help on the track.

[rossint]

Anyone looking for lubricant, I got the Redline MT90 from here http://www.performancelub.com/index.htm
Great prices and Harold is a good guy to deal with.