6 speed won't go into 1st, 3rd and 5th
 

Bought a second 6 speed, seller said it came out of a perfectly working NB8B. He's quite a trustworthy guy but the problem is that I've just installed the box and sometimes it won't go into 1st, 3rd and 5th, ie all the upper gears of the H gate pattern.

My car is still on jack stands and has been for the past two weeks, its got a new motor and just finishing of wiring and other bits and pieces.

This is the second time its done it, the first was when i first put the box in and filled it with oil. It went into gear fine and then all of a sudden it wouldn't.

Left it for a day, came back and it was fine again, and now it's happening again.

I haven't tried to force the gear lever into gear so I'm pretty sure I didn't make things worse.

I'm clueless as to what is going on.
Any ideas?

Is the engine running?

If the engine isn't running and the input shaft of the transmission isn't moving, your complaints are unfounded.

Example: lay your hands on the table so that your fingers on each hand are pointed towards the other hand...like gears.

Now move your hands toward each other, except instead of meshing your fingers, push your fingertips into each other and press hard.

It doesn't work, does it?

Can't get the engine running? Have a friend turn the driveshaft while you're trying to shift into gear.

Yeah I know that concept of the gears, I did try turning the prop shaft and it did nothing.

Fired up the engine a few hours ago and still won't go those gears but 2nd, 4th, 6th and reverse are all fine.

I think I figured out the problem then...
The car is upside down:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1389018176

Actually, I am suspect of the shifter bushing at this point. Have you had a chance to pull the shift lever out and take a look? I would find it really hard to believe that you've got 3 bent shift forks/rods

My buddy's transmission had issues with Reverse, then fifth. We swapped out the transmission. When looking over his original stuff to see if he could find what went wrong, he noticed the shifter itself was bent. From the large ball down to the bushing.

Pull the shifter and take a look. The bushing could also be broken and fell into inconvenient places.

Hahahahaha fooger!

I'll pull it out and take a look if its bent. The nylon cup bushing is definitely still intact though. Its just really strange its intermittent.

Also make sure it's the correct bushing - there are 2 different bushing designs in the 6-speed transmissions, one design is smaller than the other.

Motherfucker the fucking shifter is fucking bent AAARRGGHHH!

How do I fix it? Or will I have to replace? Isn't 6 speed shifters rare as chicken teeth?

order one of those MR baller ones with all the bells and whistles. if there's ever a good time to do that for you, its now

he just posted the group buy too

Okay so a little research shows that OEM NB 5 speeds and 6 speeds are bent on an angle a little.

I'll post some pics in about 10.

guise...
idiot of the year award goes to me

one of the three 10mm bolts that holds the lower shifter dust boot fell into the turret
I remember missing a bolt at like 2am in the morning when i was still working on my car
After not being able to find it, and not phasing me too much, i grabbed another from my bucket of spare bolts.

I'm glad I didn't force the lever, I could have jammed the bolt even more. Was able to grab it out with a magnetic pickup tool.

Yeah.
So so so stupid :vash:

Well glad you got it figured out lol.

I was literally about to go out in the garage and pull off the shifter from my 6speed out there to compare it to the one you posted

Well done, Spikes, glad we could help convince you to pull the lever. Also glad the car is still right-side down and in one piece :D

Props for admitting mistake, glad you got it sorted :rofl:

Thanks for help guys :)

Are you (Mike) the guy who bought the trans from me (Tom) in the SF Bay Area? If so I'll hook you up with another shifter. I know it was not my fault but I don't mind hooking you up.

Nah mate I'm in upside down land