Can someone school me on the slapstick operation?

[Katfish]

I'm putting my shifter back in after a carpet install and the shifter operation doesn't seem right.

When I put the shifter in reverse in can be pulled back to neutral without pushing the button, this is normal.
Now in neutral in can be pulled back again to drive (without pushing the button), still ok.

My problem is once it's in drive with the above process it can be pushed back in neutral without pushing the button (doesn't seem right)?
Only way it will not go from D to N (unless button is pushed) is if I bring it past D to 2 or 1 then push forward (slapstick).

Is this right?  Never noticed this before.

[Chryco Psycho]

seems right to me , the shifter will go from N - D & back without pushing the button unless it is pulled into 1 or 2 first

[Katfish]

Thx,

After looking at the mechanism closely I guess it is the way it works.

Just seems strange that you could go from D to N without pushing the button.  Never noticed that before.

[Glennster]

My 70 Challenger has the round wood looking knob with a button, not the T handle. Will it work as a slap stick?

[Katfish]

Should, I have the round ball style also.

[Chryco Psycho]

Yes it should , when I rarely drive an auto I am constantly shifting from drive to neutral , the cars will stop far better on slippery roads in neutral so I agree with the no detent between D & N , but when you are shifting it manually you do not want to hit N so I feel it is designed right