1984 300TDT shifting linkage adjustment

I unthinkingly started to unscrew the shifting linkage on top of the valve cover before removing the valve cover for adjustments. (1st time on OM617 engine) I quickly realized my folly but too late. All is back together but shifting is quite out of whack! How do you properly adjust that? I have tried to return it to where the "dirty" part of the linkage meets the connection. That made it work better, but initial startup from a stop is painfully SLOW! TIA for all your helpful responses!
Tom Norris