All good flighter. It's the Type9 shifter position being further back that creates the confusion.
Yes I've read not to put a lot of load through 5th gear. It would take a pretty full on motor or misuse/ abuse to do damage.

Noono
One thing not mentioned when lowering cross member, with longer bolts, to remove g/box......disconnect steering coupling

Yeah, learned that the hard way too.

While the gearbox was out I figured I'd drain the oil seeing I had no idea how long it had been in there. It was grey and miserably looking, so I'm glad I did, but I nearly blew it by using GL-5 spec oil. Never use GL-5 oil in a Type 9 (or Type E etc.), even if it is marked as GL-4/GL-5; read this for why:http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf. I eventually found a correct GL-4 spec oil at a local distributor, which was a pleasant surprise. I'm hoping it also improves the shift quality when the trans is cold.
 
 
 While the gearbox was out I figured I'd drain the oil seeing I had no idea how long it had been in there. It was grey and miserably looking, so I'm glad I did, but I nearly blew it by using GL-5 spec oil. Never use GL-5 oil in a Type 9 (or Type E etc.), even if it is marked as GL-4/GL-5; read this for why:http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf. I eventually found a correct GL-4 spec oil at a local distributor, which was a pleasant surprise. I'm hoping it also improves the shift quality when the trans is cold.
 



Hey Flighter, I know this is an old thread, but would you remember what gearbox oil you ended up using?

As you may have seen from the other M2 Cactus thread, I now have a car, plus an engine and box, which I getting closer to making one. I checked the gearbox today, which was just as well as there was maybe 300 ml of oil in the bottom, so I need to fill it.
thanks

thanks Flighter, I realised today at work I had the yesterford pricelist from Mike.
He lists an 80W penrite gear oil so I'll check out your links as well and get something sorted.

Wisdom is appreciated.
best 2c I have ever spent Flighter.
 
 

I have just re-done my gearbox oil using- guess what?? Penriite 75w - 80. Smooth, clean shifts, have also put in a special additive to rejuvenate the seals, will give a verdict shortly if it stops a little front input shaft weep as it claims to do!! Len

I promised myself not to post this weekend as I'm sure I have hassled you all enough recently and wanted to retreat into the corner and give someone else a go ,but it was a bit of a bad night in the shed...
 
I changed the gearbox oil, using  Flighter's favourite drop, but I think I've found a bit missing from the alloy extension casting but aren't sure now.
I have the std 4 speed box, and below is a pic I found from Kirts green escy rebuild, showing the std box and a rocket version. So from the pic, I have highlighted what felt like was missing from the gearbox extension.
ie. in my extension,  there's only one  cast tag that the side of the selector lever bottoms sideways against, but from what I could see and how it felt, I think there should have been this stop on each side??
 
There was a thread on hear also about fitting a quickshift, and I thought from one of those photos it had these lugs on both sides? I stuck it all back, and it seems to shift as expected, but the more I check this car out, the more I'm convinced it was a bitza that has been put back together after having the good bits stripped.
 
it might be the heat....