Hey guys!

I've got the transmission out and have completed the dreaded shift center spring job.

(Spoilers: that job sucks so much. I get it now, but man someone really should make an updated writeup with new pictures, or video because I made that mistake of pushing one of the forks beyond where the input shaft could retrieve it. Had to open the transmission and reset the forks to neutral by hand.)

ANYWAYS, my question for you guys today is about installing a Mazdatrix short shifter. If I install my stock shifter, it works no problem (even springs back to center... yay.) But for some reason, when I get the short shifter in there, it's really tight on the 5/R side, and won't even budge to the 1/2 side. Shifts to 3/4 with great effort. I have searched this forum and other forums. Someone else had this problem here but that was because he had an FB transmission and didn't know it. I know I have an '88 non-turbo transmission.

Here are some details for your consideration:

- bought this shifter, and verified the one I received looks like this listing
- old OEM shifter was chewed up pretty badly because the previous owner didn't have oil in the turret. A new OEM shift lever costs as much as the short shifter, so I figured why not give it a try?
- I am 100% sure I am assembling it correctly per their video, instructions, and other Youtube videos. I made sure to remove the old bushing/wave washer first; I know that's a common mistake
- I've rebuilt my '93 Miata's shifter, so I'm pretty familiar with this design architecture

Have any of you run into this problem? If so, how did you fix it? I'd like to idiot check myself before I call Mazdatrix. They also still owe me 1 Racingbeat system they haven't shipped yet -_-

Thanks!

 

Here are my lovely new parts