Stuck in forward

[larelvis15@gmail.com]

I change the water pump on a 1999 Mercury Force 75 horsepower when I went to put the lower unit back in is stuck in forward how do I fix this and it was in forward when I took it out

 

[Jiggz]

Did you connect the lower shift rod back? Check make sure the lower shift rod is not unscrewed from the shift coupler.

 

[jerryjerry05]

The 99 75 used the Mercury shift system.
All it takes to drop out of F is move the prop one way or the other.
Drop the lower, turn the shift rod with pliers (not too much pressure)to the left as you pull up on the right hand side prop blade.
This should put it in F
Then put it back in and only turn(lift up) the right blade to rotate the drive shaft.