Reverse gear stuck!

[Jayyamafish]

Hi everyone,
I have an 05 F90TLRD. I'm attempting to change all bearings and seals in the lower unit and I'm stuck, I have the lower off, shift shaft out and prop bearing carrier out (which was no easy feat). However the reverse gear and shim did not come out with the carrier and I cant figure out how to get it out. I'm wondering if I can pull the prop shaft without damaging it. I'm almost sure the shim is what is holding up the process.

[walleye1]

Pull the prop shaft out with the gear.

[Jayyamafish]

Thanks walleye1, got it out and it was just as hard as the carrier if not harder. I have only ran it in saltwater and the seals got torn apart by fishing line right after I had replaced them. It only had two or three trips on the new seals and I let it sit for about a year not knowing it had saltwater instead of oil in the lower. If I could give new boaters some real heart felt advice it would be check/change your oil often!! the price of oil is nothing compared to a lower unit rebuild.