gear indicator?

[1986Silverado]

Got a new needle and installed it today and tried it out. Well, once it gets over to drive(D) the needle pulls out of the slide it rides in. It seems as if the slot is either worn or bent to where it is to large, or I may have the clip at the end of the cable in the wrong place. Does it clip to the part of the colum that moves when the shifter arm is pulled down? The cable seems to be to far forward of the needle and slide and pulls the needle out of the slider.