Reassembling motor and I don’t see that neutral on the shift drum has a detent to line up the neutral position or a specific orientation. Don’t want to glue up the cases and find out I missed a neutral tab or line up.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks


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There isn't any "timing" or gear the transmission needs to be in during assembly on that model.   (BTW, I find it easiest to install the trans into the right case half first)

That said, there is a clear "neutral indicator" I use during assembly as I prefer to assemble in neutral. 

On the 77-79 IT175 is the small hole in the left end of the shift drum that will point straight up when trans is in neutral.   The DT175 version of the engine has a "rivet" in that hole that contacts the neutral switch when in neutral.  On the IT, the neutral switch boss on the case is not drilled and threaded but it's straight above the axis of the drum so it's easy to assemble with the hole in the drum pointing straight up.  

Got it!
Good explanation.
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

P.S.  It is possible to install the "star wheel" onto the shift drum 180 degrees out of time.  No biggie, easy to fix even if engine is back in the bike.  


(The way to avoid is to note the "detent" in the star that the spring loaded lever engages...  if you assemble in neutral, easy to see where that wheel engages the "star" at the "half notch")

Or RTFM...  there are alignment marks on the drum and star if I remember correctly.

I notice an arrow or pointer between 2 of the dowel pins on the flat side of the “star” with the retaining clip. 
There is also an area on the circumference of both sides of the “star” between 2 of the pins where the rounded surface is flattened out.
What is the significance of these markings?

From the manuals available in tech library here:

You "could" if you wsnted, assemble it in any gear you like. When the cases are together though the star pin piece has to go on as shown in the pic.they probably just say neutral as nothing is engaged at that point, all dogs clear so probably easier. I had a 77 IT175 been through a shed fire so got it for almost nothing. Got it going still looking burnt & found Trans was stuffed which was why it'd been parked up. Me being too tight to spend a dollar I removed the faulty 4th gear. Raced it like that for a while too in the enduro mx class. Just another stupid thing I've done haha. Actually love that bare bones bike, performed great.