Dropping Lower Unit

[MarshMarlowe]

1997 Yamaha C90TLRV

I dropped the LU recently to replace gearcase seals & water pump. Engine was in neutral. Put everything back together, and now it is difficult to shift into reverse. I pulled the shift linkage, and it is still difficult to move the shift mechanism by hand. I'm going to pull the gearcase again and see if I missed something. It's this engine supposed to be in gear when you pull the lower unit?

EDIT: I had my wife slowly spin the prop clockwise and it shifted easily into gear. I may have just answered my own question

[boscoe99]

1997 Yamaha C90TLRV

I dropped the LU recently to replace gearcase seals & water pump. Engine was in neutral. Put everything back together, and now it is difficult to shift into reverse. I pulled the shift linkage, and it is still difficult to move the shift mechanism by hand. I'm going to pull the gearcase again and see if I missed something. It's this engine supposed to be in gear when you pull the lower unit?

EDIT: I had my wife slowly spin the prop clockwise and it shifted easily into gear. I may have just answered my own question

I suspect that you have. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to shift a motor from neutral into a gear (particularly reverse) if the motor is not running.

[rodbolt17]

NEVER EVER EVER shift that motor without rotating either the propshaft or the drive shaft.
that goes for most all mechanical dog clutch designs.

shifting without any rotation is a great way to bend shafts,break cables, destroy shift cams and break control box links.