Alpha one gen 1 not going into reverse after shift cable replacement

[Cjpainten]

Im trying to put back my upper unit and cannot get it to engage reverse once mated. The lever goes from nuetral to forwads fine but gets hung up on reverse when the drive is mated. Without the drive it shifts fine. I am positive the cable is in forwards (all the way pushed in at mounting plate) I am also assembling the upper with the shift lever pointed inward toward the boat. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bt Doctur]

The control box must be in fwd, and the lower unit brass shoe must be in a straight line bow to tern

 

[Cjpainten]

It is. Im having trouble understanding how the lever works inside the upper. It's just a bar and a lever???

 

[Bt Doctur]

its connected to the shift cable thats connected to the control cable. The arm with the wheel goes in the fork of the slide

 

[Cjpainten]

The lever was stuck, I was able to knock it loose but now it appears to be bent, not lining up with lower...

It's always something, this is why I quit my job as a mechanic years ago lol