Shifter issue?., Shifter going hard right into 4th Options

[sbruzek]

Hi all

I have a 73 2.0. My shifter goes into each gear fine (if carefully guided into 2nd/3rd) My issue is that it pops out of 1st hard and takes it all the way over to 4th instead of out of 1st and up to 2nd gear. If I hold it tight I can guide it up into 2nd ok but it doesn’t ever have a smooth move into 2nd. It always wants to go all the way up/over to 4th as it comes out of 1st.
Is an adjustment needed to the shift rod or do I have an issue with the shifter? Seems like spring is too strong as it comes our of 1st but I like that it comes out crisply so there is not much chance of a down shift into 1st by mistake. Is there guide or ?, in the shifter that is worn/missing that allows it to move too far to the right, past 2nd, and over too far into 4th.

There is a spacer under the shifter. I think that means someone might have put in a short shifter, as to the best of my knowledge stock shifters don’t have the spacer. It looks like shifter itself is stock based on pics I’ve seen and typical wear.

Any suggestions?

Thanx

Steve