Went to change water impeller in 1987 alpha1. Boat off, in neutral, and drained. Split the out drive in half with upper still on boat lower removed. Changed everything and re assembled. Filled lower up with fresh oil. Hooked up the ear muffs and started boat. In neutral the prop is spinning at rpm speed. Shut motor off. Grab prop will free spin clockwise. Go to spin counterclockwise and it locks, won't spin. Feels like it is in forward gear/engaged... Ideas please.. Boats a 1987 chris craft 202 stinger with 5.0 merc and alpha 1 drive. Everything worked with drive before I split em..

You need to split the drive back apart. Put the shifter in forward and make sure the lower unit is in forward and reassemble being carefull to keep from letting it slip into neutral.
Steve

The shift linkage at the front of the lower is clocked off
Get into Fwd on unit and reassemble
You can pull that part up w/o removing it and then set it back into position and be a click off

Or he lost the washer on top of the shift shaft seal!

The alpha goes back on in forward. It helps to have someone hold a little bit of tension on the propshaft as it goes on.