So is this a pre 'alpha' style gear cluster? ie, with a spring loaded pin/detent fella sticking out the top of the downshaft?
those gears were cut so that when running the pinion is pulled into the fwd/rev set, the later 'alpha' style had the pinion being pushad away from the gears (upwards)
if it's in good order, it sounds cheap for someone 'in need'