Aristotle, may not help you, but I found that in my case if I have my front derailleur as far toward the crank on the large chainring as possible, I hit gears 2-6 rather 1,3-6. Don't know if that means anything, but by changing the position of the ring, I can get the other gear. I wonder if I flip over from indexed to friction if I can get all 6 until I get the adjustment figured out so I can do it indexed. Don't understand why you can't with your friction gearing.