Mercedes 300sd won't shift from neutral past reverse into park

Our 84 Mercedes Benz 300sd is having trouble (it’s happened twice to two different drivers) shifting from neutral into reverse or park. It is an automatic and playing around with the shifter knob helps it so shift.



It seems like a linkage issue, but I do all of the work on our vehicles and would like some specific advice before I put it on the lift. Thanks!

It can be a rock or stone that gets thrown up and jams the shift linkage…Some of these shift linkages can get complex with shift lockouts that lock the shifter unless the brake is depressed. Could be a malfunction there too…