I have had similar problems before on gassers and it was always the scorpion gear. That's the nickname for a flat piece of metal that is shaped like a scorpion (viewed from above). It is located below the kick starter gears on the clutch side and has a stiff spring on it that returns your shift lever to its center position. This "scorpion" is stamped metal and sometimes they are a little rough around the edges. At the first sign of shifting problems its a good idea to remove the scorpion and sand/polish the edges. People who change their oil often seldom see this problem but leave that oil in there too long and the extra debris in the oil can be enough to cause the scorpion to stick. Mine always stuck in the down position and would not change gears until the scorpion was returned to the center(neutral position).
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