I tried rotating that linkage and wound up with the same result.   I  hope
you scored the shaft so you can get it back where it was!   My suggestion is
don't touch it unless things are really messed up!
Instead,  pull up the boot on the shift lever and loosen the two bolts
holding the plate to the floor.   Just loose enough that it will move a
little when you
shift from gear to gear ( including reverse ).   When things seem to free up
gradually tighten the bolts to maintain the "sweet spot".

John McLean   87  Vanagon GL

> Folks,
> Prior to this morning, my bus would only shift into first if I pushed down
as
> if to defeat the reverse lockout.  From the archives, I found suggestions
to
> "rotate the linkage clockwise one notch" at the mid-van connecting point.
> So, I've loosened the clamp at the middle of the linkage, but now no
matter
> how I clamp things back together, the bus only shifts into third or
fourth.
> No reverse, no first or second.
> Where am I going wrong?  How can I "rotate the linkage"?  The frontmost
> section of the linkage doesn't appear to rotate at all.
>
> Best,
> d.
>