From your description the failure has to be at the transmission end. The plastic gear maybe being pushed passed the internal gear in the trany Or barely engaging. If you can spin the cable end and get a MPH at the needle.
~ BD. "You won't find me in an old folks home" Pioneer Florida Cracker 1958 Apache Stepside 1958 Apache 1/2 ton Panel 1959 Apache 1/2 ton Panel
