first, sort through whether if the shift lever moves and selects grears
properly with the engine off.
If it does, then you start to think cluctch is not releasing fully, and
you go down that path.

if it's still vauge/stiff ..
then lube the hell out of the shift linkage.
Really ...Vanaons need this as often as once a year.
Just 'never' lubing or checking the entire shift linkage, from knob to
side of trans is really , really bad for it.
the parts are going on 30 yurs old...
they CAN'T last well never getting lubed.

Attended to on a regular basis, and driven nicely, they last
indefensible almost.

so get all that sorted, including adjustment of the shift plate at the
base of the shifter and the spline connection in the middle of the van,
underneath.
Sometimes those need attention.

Then ..once that's all sorted, you start thinking about whether it was
always just a shift linkage issue or it's internal to the transmission.

an example..I worked over the shift linkage on a 84 Westy until I'm SURE
it was shifting as nicely as it did wwhen it rolled out of the factory.
It was totally perfect.

that lasted about two weeks, then it got weird and vauge again.
Trans had about 170K on it.
Rebuilding the trans is what fixed it really right..

so it trans miles are very high, gear oil is full and high quality, and
not 10 yrs old, and you've made the shift linkage really sweet again ..
and it's still weird, start thinking about your trans.

good luck !
scott

On 2/26/2016 9:20 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
> Can't shift readily. Hangs in gear, can't shift, or can't get it in gear at
> all. Reverse is difficult -  often can't find   it.  Happens in reverse,
> Ist, 2nd and 4th gears.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> John.
>