I am putting the engine back together after a crank replacement on a 2004 450s.

When I put the cases back together, I verified that nothing in the transmission was bound up. I could turn the main shaft easily by hand and verified that the drive shaft was turning. I did not have to force the case together or anything like that.

The clutches have not been installed.

The manual said to put the transmission in neutral before putting on the shifter linkage. I turned the star wheel to what looks to be neutral but now the main shaft and drive shaft are hard to turn by hand. I am wondering if this is just because I am not quite in neutral or sort of between gears.

Anyone experience similar issues?