Maybe UR5's???? If so, those are too cool. They are like an AC R41TS which is 2 heat ranges cooler than the stock plug. They are mainly for SC'd engines.

The stock plug should be an AC MR43T or the NGK equivalent which is a BR6FS.

You can just use an AC R43T or an AC R43TS. The "M" designates marine. The "S" designates an extended tip which will burn a little cleaner at idle.

your stiff shifters could very well be the ball and spring under the back cover on the outdrive. Mine was tough to shiff and I finally found the ball and spring stiff.

If it were that ball and spring stiff is it just the spring that needs replacing? Anyone got any pics of what I'm looking for?

Its part #3 and #14. The lower shift cable connects to #14
http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...%28STANDARD%29

99% of the time you have to replace them both. I have had mine replced on both drives over the past couple years. The drive has to come off to do it.

How would I distinguish if it's that or the shift cables? The throtle cables move extremely easily and are identical brand so they were probably put on at the same time.... Shifting into neutral is always easy it's shifting into forward or reverse that's hard, and I'm not joking when I say I have had bruises in the center of my hand after a long weekend of serious ride time... Appreciate any help

-Emmick

First thing to do is disconnect the shifter cable at the shift linkage bracket and then move the shifters back and forth to see if they are smooth. If they are smooth and easy to move, then it either the lower shift cables or the linkage in the drives. Either way the drives have to come off.

just a thought I had earlier...When I began to ahve this problem we swapped the drives to see if it was in the dives and the shifting problem stayed on the same side....So that would basically tell me that it is not the spring and ball in the drive... This would limit it down to the lower shifter cable and the shifter cable that runs from the shifter back to motor mounts.... So would it be best to disconnect the lower shifter cable from the bracket on the motor first and see if its that one?

If its only one side and after swapping drives it stayed on teh same side, then its in one of the cables on that side. most likely its in the lower cable.

Disconnect the upper cable first and try moving the shifter. If it moves smooth then its probably the lower cable. Try moving the linkage by hand to shift that drive with the upper cable disconnected.