Ah, I thought about that after I posted but here I was trying to imagine someone getting the spline in the coupler as they were putting the engine in and had a brain fart. TGIF. Im going boating right now. Good luck, How soon before your all together and running?

Realistically, 2-3 months. :(

Ouch, And im mad that Im just now getting in the water.

Cant you turn the spline by hand and have some one else shift it? I was able to rotate my drive by hand when they was off the boat. Just an Idea

Well, I know that I can turn the drive coupler. So, if I throw a prop on it, it should turn fairly easily. I just have to push/pull on the cable to make it shift. Right?

Your going to put the prop on the drive coupler somehow? If you can It should work, You need to spin the drive shaft not the prop shaft just to clarify. This is because the drive shaft spins the gears thus allowing shifting. If it is in neutral spinning the prop shaft would do nothing.

Ok, I was going to turn the prop shaft. Turning the input shaft will be more difficult, but I should be able to do it.

Hey Mo, Hey Larry???:D

Just kidding cord!
In all the times I installed Bravo drives, never had a problem with the shift cable not engaging. As long as the little jaws in the drive were sticking out & they appeared open it should have connected fine, doesn't sound like there should be anything to worry about.
Raypanic had a good suggestion though as long as you can turn the driveshaft and have someone try to shift to check. I would not try to shift without turning.

I shift mine all the time without the engines running and have never had a problem. If the drive goes into forward and reverse than it is properly connected. Put the drive in forward and see if the prop locks up in one direction. then shift it into reverse and see if it locks up going the other way. If it is still locked up in the same direction then pull the drive because it didn't lock onto the cable.

Ok. I can do that. I just got the shifter and quadrant installed over the weekend, so this will be a bit easier to do. I do know that the drive is currently in drive, and that it didn't want to go into neutral.