Ok I got the smaller ball on...after removing the linkage from the van.
With a quick boil up in the billy the ball pushed on easy.
Once back in the van I installed the cup in the metal ring and tried to push in the ball. No luck I kept pushing the cup out of the retaining ring. So I put a pry bar behind it but this time the ball just slid on the shaft (I hadnt used a pin like the stock one) so out it all came again.
This time I drilled a hole through the ball and installed a pin. I installed the cup onto the ball out side tha van then back under again. Now all I had to do was push the cup into the metal ring, but I couldnt get it to go in straight so after lots of tries and running out ouf time I settled on 90% in.
I put everything back together but now I was missing R and 1st was were R used to be. back under loosen the clamp that holds the linkage to the selector and turned the shaft without moving the selector. Back together now I had R but no 5!!
#rd time was just right all gears are back
Hope my mess helps someone else!
Nik