So if you can't pull it apart, then fix it by pulling it apart?

 

It's not coming out with the plate unbolted etc? As above, there is nothing holding the shifter in place once that is unbolted other than dirt!

Typically the 'It won't come back up when I select reverse' is due to the assembly being caked in crap, but I've never seen one that's stuck once the retainer plate is unbolted.