Mercruiser pre Alpha outleg. Changing water pump impeller. I can get the bolts off the gear casing and the lower casing separates about a 1/2 inch. Then no more, should the Leg be up or down and in or out of gear. Or what am I doing wrong, suggestions please.

the shift shaft I guess is what you are calling a leg should not matter comming apart......if you have all the bolts off and its dropped down at all its just hanging up somewhere may be water pump tube or the shift shaft is hanging up but it just slides over the lower shift shaft

Id post a pic but as a trial member you wont be able to see it