shift linkage adjustment

IN NEUTRAL THE STICK SHOULD BE POINTING NEAR STRAIGHT UP! IF YOU CANNOT GET REVERSE, BUT YOU CAN GET 4TH AND 5TH, IT SOUNDS AS IF YOUR STICK IS TIGHTENED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT,(IN RELATION TO THE GEAR BOX), EVEN THOUGH THE STICK IS TRYING TO "GATE" INTO REVERSE; THE TRANSAXLE'S SHIFTING SELECTER IS NOT ABLE TO "FOLLOW" ALL THE WAY LEFT INTO THE REVERSE POSITION! TRY MOVING THE STICK A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT AND TIGHTEN. LASTLY, I HAD THIS PROBLEM: IF THE REVERSE LIGHT 'SWITCH' IS SCREWED INTO TO SHIFTER HOUSING (THE SMALL BOX ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TRANSAXLE REAR) TOO FAR, OR ALL THE WAY IN, THIS WILL PREVENT THE "GEAR SELECTER SHAFT" FROM MOVING FAR ENOUGH TO THE LEFT, TO ALLOW THE STICKSHIFT AND ALL ELSE TO "GATE" INTO REVERSE! INSPECT IT CLOSELY AND GOOD LUCK, MARLIN.

ONE LAST THING, YOU CAN ALSO TRY LOOSENING THE TURNBUCKLE, PUT THE TRANSAXLE INTO REVERSE AT THE TRANSAXLE ITSELF!! PUT, (GATE) THE STICKSHIFT INTO REVERSE, NOW CAREFULLY TIGHTEN ALL COMPONENTS! MARLIN.

I adjust mine by first putting the trans in neutral,put the shifter in neutral,loosen the turnbuckle,carefully wedge small peices of wood between the shift lever and the shift plate(it has to be centered front to back AND side to side),then tighten the turnbuckle.It may not be the most scientific way but it works like a charm.I've tried to have someone hold it in the center but that dosn't work very well.It sounds like your pretty close.
Hope this helps,
Ron