1998 BF90, merc lowerend trying to find neutral

[lwellbo]

This lower unit is a merc. Pulled to replace the water pump. Can't find neutral. Turning the shift shaft clockwise and the drive shaft or prop I cannot find a neutral. clockwise the prop will turn the drive shaft and then click. Counterclockwise, it just turns the drive shift. Can't figure what could have gone wrong by just pulling the unit off. I am looking for ideals.

Thank you

[boats.net]

as long as you didn't remove shift shaft from gearcase then should be able to turn shift shaft until goes into neutral, If it doesn't then there is a problem within gearcase.