Help please, I cannot get my lower back on! The gear shift will not line up correctly

89 Invader, 4.3l Mercury Mercruiser in board outboard...

So I recently got my boat out this year and when hooking up the ears to the lower unit I noticed that water was not circulating and boat began to over heat. Talked with a few people and determined the impellor needed to be changed.... Bought the kit, took off lower unit, replaced the entire pump, and now when trying to get the lower unit back on I cannot get the shifter to align properly... Well, I can completly put the lower unit back on, but then can only go in forward gear or reverse gear. I have tried everything I can think of... Here is what I have tried:

Putting the throttle in drive and keeping the gear in lower unit in drive...
Putting the throttle in neutral and keeping the gear in lower unit in neutral...
Putting the throttle in reverse and keeping the gear in lower unit in neutral... and all vise versa...

I dont know what else to do. I have watched videos and read several forum topics related that I can find.

Please, anyone assist me. Help is greatly appreciated!!!

Re: Help please, I cannot get my lower back on! The gear shift will not line up corre

Hello and welcome to iboats.

This thread belongs in the MerCruiser I/O forum, not the Mercury/Mariner outboard forum.

*******************************MOD's, Please move this to the MerCruiser I/O forum, Thanks.***************************************

Re: Help please, I cannot get my lower back on! The gear shift will not line up corre

was i even supposed to create a thread? Im new to this... Any help is greatly appreciated.

Re: Help please, I cannot get my lower back on! The gear shift will not line up corre

Click on the MerCruiser I/O link and post your question there just like you did here. It's that simple