Need to know where i went wrong

[Fishaddicted]

First off I'm new to outboards but thinking replacing an impeller in a 98 40 hp mercury force motor would be easy and it was came apart easy went back together easy but i spin the prop and it now makes a clicking sound and put shifter inn fwd reverse and all the same sounds but no neutral please if anyone knows i will be greatful for all the help thanks

 

[fastjeff]

You have the shifter shafts mis-aligned. Drop the LU again, put both top and bottom in neural, take all the slack out (at the bottom) and try again.

Jeff