pulled my drive while in neutral 😬

[84Ed]

I pulled my drive to replace the waterpump and forgot to put the shifter in forward. I have an MR drive on an old 1979 Century 3000 with a 1997 5.7 engine.
when I split the drive everything seemed OK. after replacing the water pump I re-read the manuel on re-installing the drive. (learned my lesson).
After numerous attempts, I have been unable to get the drive to seat properly. I can get about 1/2" away from seating.
I did all the proper things: alignment, forward gear, prop shaft bungeed in forward, oiled the input shaft o rings, turned the prop to engage the splines, carefully got the shift slider in place.

Here is the problem: when the drive is 1/2" from home, the upper shift shaft is past 12:00. When I crawled underneath with a flashlight and screw driver, if I pushed the drive further from home by another 1/2", the foot of the upper shift shaft will return to straight ahead. when I push the drive forward, the upper shift shaft foot pulls ahead past 12:00 again. Not just a hair but it points to about 2:00.

Anyone one know what the problem is ?
The lower shaft shoe is straight ahead and partially engaged in the upper foot.

Help much appreciated !

 

[Bt Doctur]

With the lower splined shaft turned all the way clockwise, the prop locks counter clockwise, correct?

 

[84Ed]

yes

 

[84Ed]

I mean, when I put the lower and upper units together I positioned the splined shaft full clockwise, and that locked the prop shaft counterclock.

 

[84Ed]

I mean, when I put the lower and upper units together I positioned the splined shaft full clockwise, and that locked the prop shaft counterclock.

update: new day and a fresh look.
it turns out the shift lever had popped out of the shift cable fork and got turned out of position. After I pulled the drive back a bit,I saw what happened, and put the lever back in position and the drive went right on.