75HP 2 stroke ELPTO 2010 lower unit remove & instal question about forward or neutral

[Ganastas]

I haven't done this before so I want to get it right before I start. Have watched lots of videos, read this forum and now I have what seems a contradiction in the service Mercury manual

The Mercury service manual states:

Disassembly of Lower Unit

• Shift engine into forward gear - OK
  

Assembly

• Position shift block in forward gear position - OK
• Shift gear housing into neutral position. Propeller

shaft will rotate freely in either direction. -Why back into neutral? Is it to allow installation of new water pump impeller in housing? Do I do this by turning the shift shaft end on lower unit?

Then later during installation it says:

• Shift gear housing into forward gear position. In

forward gear the gear housing will ratchet when
propeller shaft is turned clockwise and resistance
will be felt when propeller shaft is rotated counterclockwise

• NOTE: If, while performing Step 11, the drive shaft

splines will not align with the crankshaft splines, place
a propeller onto propeller shaft and turn it counterclockwise
as the gear housing is being pushed toward
drive shaft housing -But if in forward gear how can I turn it counterclockwise?

Can anyone help?

[JOE54]

i feel it is much easier to install gearcase in N and turn flywheel clock wise, leaving shifter in N , yes you will need it in N to install impeller, make sure you have g oil in it before shifting by slight turns of shift shaft