Removed lower unit...can't find neutral

[filly]

Replaced the water pump on my 2006 50HP TLR. First time doing this or anything else on an outboard, as I just bought my first boat a few months ago. Water pump replacement was cake, but when I got to the part in the manual about ensuring the gearcase is in neutral for reassembly, I'm at my wits end. I don't have the specific tool to turn the shift shaft, so I'm just using pliers with a doubled up rag around the shift shaft. The manual says to turn the shift shaft one way, turn the drive shaft clockwise, and watch the prop turn. You're then supposed to turn the shift shaft the other way until the prop turns the other direction. In between should be neutral. I can't friggin' find it. I can get neutral, but not in between forward and reverse. I'm getting either F/R/N, or R/F/N, I can't remember. It's not in between F and R. What's the deal?

[boats.net]

Neutral should be between forward and reverse gear and should be able to spin prop without drive shaft turning, not sure what you have, you didn't remove shaft shaft from gearcase did you?