1977 Mercury 4 hp stuck in gear

[chead98]

Motor is stuck in gear. I took the lower end apart and its still stuck. The shift rod goes up and down as it should. I stuck my homemade one down the hole but can't seem to get it in neutral. At the bottom where that rod connects to the prop gears, I can't even get at it or disamble it. It's made in Belgium. See attached