80Q Shifter Problem

[Jeff]

Hi - 

Last week the shift lever in my 80Q started to behave funny. 

Shifts from 1 to 2 were fine, shifts from 3 to 4 were fine, but 2 to 3 and 4 to 
5 were not.  It seemed like the left/right movement of the shifter was 
constricted -- where I used to have maybe 2 to 3 inches of left/right movement, 
I only had about 1 inch. 

Things are better now, but it still doesn't feel right. 

I haven't had time to open things up and take a look, but I am thinking that 
perhaps the plastic "ball" - for lack of a better word - may have possible 
cracked. 

Any thoughts or suggestions? 

Should I just go ahead and order a short-shift kit since I think that they 
inclde a replacement plastic "ball" anyway ? 

TIA 

jeff