3 Speed neutral position sticky after rebuild

[crf250r]

After cleaning, replacing wear items, and reassembling my 3 speed column the shifter is very sticky in the neutral area when moving from the 2-3 position to the R-1. I adjusted the bottom per http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=215307
and the transmission rods are not hooked up either so we can rule that out. When pushing on the "selector" on the bottom of the column it moves to both positions easily but when you try and move it with the shift lever in the cab it sticks, which leads me to think it is binding up somewhere near the top of the column. Does anyone have experience with this and can point me in the direction of something I have overlooked? Thanks