stiff gearstick

Guys, need help. Have a 95 2.5dt manual, and the gearstick is giving me grief. At times it is fine, smooth changes up and down. Then suddenly, when going from 2/3, 3/4, and 4/5, the gearstick moves into the neutral position of the gearshift, then sticks. I have to slap the gear stick hard to move it, then it goes where it should go.

The clutch is not slipping, there is no grinding of the gear teeth, and the gears do not jump/slip when driving. A friend tells me that there is a "fork selector" which guides the gearstick through the range, and this may be worn, or have shifted slightly.

Anyone any suggestions??? Is it a big job, expensive, difficult etc???

Nah, you just remove the gaiter and look inside. A steel plate cut like a stencil guides the lever around and can sometimes get shoved a bit to one side and so partially block the guides. However if that's not the problem, next would be clutch slave cylinder. Can get a repair kit online or from Britpart (where I got mine) but you might need expert help (as I did) to get the old one out and fix it.

have solved my problem. Took off the gear gaiters to expose base of the gearstick were it joins the main linkage. There is a crossbar joint, about 2" wide, which has a small ball at each end. Beyond these is a small recieving cup which holds a return spring( bit like a ball and socket joint). It is these springs which return the gearstick to neutral position between third and fourth. The whole lot were dry as a bone and covered in rust, quick rub down with steel wool and a bit of copper grease and my gearbox is running smooth as silk.