Little background. 97 HX 5 spd. 221k miles. Recently bought from a friend and immediately swapped the tranny oil with the dealer stuff and the 2 shifter bushings underneath. Clutch fluid is full.

Here is the problem
When I start the car I can not get into any gear. I have to wiggle and force to get into first or reverse. No grinding, just hard to get in. After that, it gets progressively easier and after 1-2 mins of driving its perfectly fine going into all gears. If i shut the car for 5 minutes and get back in, its hard again. The car is still hot but its hard to shift again. Ive had sticks that didnt like to shift well when cold but the fluid is new and its very hot here this summer. Any Ideas?

 

Grease the bushings and you didn't tighten the bolts under the shifter too much? I had a similar problem on my CRX and threw in the energy suspension bushing kit to resolve it.

 

I installed the energy kit that you speak of and greased the bushings well. Maybe ill loosen the bolts under the shifter but not sure how that would effect it only on first start

When the car is off you can get into any gear very easily but as soon as you start the car its a bear to get into gear. Pumping the clutch really has no effect either. Nor does slowly letting the clutch out while holding pressure on the gear. It does not slip in without force.

 

Ahh ok. My issue was with the car on or off so definitely the bushings in my case.