[cadillac_al]

It sounds like it isn't engaging in high range until he pulls the lever all the way back into hi lock. That could be a sticky shifter. My first 203 shifted like butter for 20 years until I broke it. The last 2 that I drive now stick badly and shift hard. I know it is only because they spent their entire life in high range. I have drowned them in Liquid Wrench or Break Away and they are useable but they aren't getting lubed completely to make them shift like butter like when they were new.

I would spray the sh*t out of it and see if the stock shifter will work until you get the time and ambition for the 2 stick mod.

When I shift into high range, after passing neutral I can feel the gears starting to engage as the trans starts spinning slower and it slides right in. I do this because I only want to go one click and not slide into lock by mistake.