Replacing shifter bushings....spring is still good but doesnt return.
 

I am swapping in some new shifter bushings and the shifter return spring is intact.

It is sticking out over the top of where the linkage socket is. It has pressure when I push on the spring to the left but the whole socket moves when I push it to the right.

So when I reinsert the shifter, does the bottom shifter ball go to left of the return spring into the socket or do I insert it from the right side of the spring into the socket?

I looked for videos and such or an explanation but couldn't find this piece of info.

I am seeing a post with a pic of the shifter housing hole here -> https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-gen-archive-72/miata-short-throw-shifter-writeup-445801/

I dont see the return spring hanging over the top of the linkage in there where the lower ball goes. Is mine screwed up? The curved end of the return spring is over the top of that little aluminum brick with hole in it, that i have been reffering to as linkage.

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/s5-convertible-tii-extras-swap-project-pictures-877625/

Take a look at the first page of my build. I tore the transmission to replace the shifter spring and ball holder/lower bushing thing. The shifter, goes to the RIGHT of the spring, on the flat side of the spring (not the curved side). So you end up pushing the spring to the LEFT with the ball, so that ball fits on the RIGHT of the spring and into the lower bushing thing.

Hope that helps....

See, thats what I thought and I have already reassembled the shifter that way. I dont understand though...the spring is there and intact, has sprung pressure, but yet my shifter wont return to center.

Are you sure all your bushings on the shifter are in good condition? If the bushings are worn out, the shifter will tend to flop around. The spring should have really good strong pressure regardless though and most of the time the shifter will return from right side to neutral, but not left side to neutral if it is worn.

That's what I was replacing, the fulcrum bushings. The aluminum block inside the shifter hole is missing its bushing, but you can't take that out unless you drop the trans. I am going to wait on that one until I rebuild the trans a few months down the road.

No wonder mine's so sloppy.. i don't even have the bushings OR a spring in there.

I just got a PM about this. You must replace the rubber boots too, or the spring doesn't have enough force to bring it back into position.

I get the shifter block into Neutral.
If it was in gear then use your 10mm deep and an extension and use it as your shifter to put the trans into neutral.
Drop the shifter in and press down,working the lower ball from the passenger side towards the middle of the trans.
The ball should slide the spring towards the driver and Pop into place.

when doing a Short shifter install I found that IF you tighten those 3 10mm nuts that hold the collar of the shifter into the trans Really tight it will not allow the shifter to return correctly.
I have rectified it with using a Piece of gasket and some washers under that upper collar to ease the Downward pressure on the shifter.It works.

Take some pics of the shifter assembly for us

Is it the stock shifter?

I had a similar issue- tightening the three retaining bolts "froze" the shifter- and some testing revealed that the big pivot ball was not seating on the lower bush.
I spaced the bushing up with some thin fiber washers from the plumbing dept. of Ace Hardware (this took a few tries to get the number of washers correct) and it's been superb ever since, maybe the best shifting I've ever felt.