6 HP Impeller change

[capnpete]

Help!
I have just changed the impeller on my Tohatzu MFS 6 and now I cannot get the shaft to align with the splines in the engine. It comes to a dead halt with about 3 cm to go. There is no sense of the splines touching when I rotate the engine. I have done this job on other outboards successfully without more than the usual jiggling but this is my first attempt with a Tohatzu.
Can anyone offer any tips or tell me what I should have done!
capnpete

 

[pvanv]

No tricks to this one. It's a matter of feel. The water tube, shift rod, and shaft all need to align with their counterparts. Sometimes if you walk away for a cuppa joe and then return, it slips right together.

 

[capnpete]

Thanks Paul.
I'll try again tomorrow. Been at it all today. At least I know that there is nothing else to it.
Most outboards are tricky in this respect but this one is a so & so.
capnpete