This sounds like the shift linkage and fail safe neutral device is out of adjustment. There is a fail safe that keeps you from being able to crank the motor when it is not in neutral. If you do try to adjust this linkage, just make sure that it will not crank unless it is in neutral for your safety. If it cranked while in gear it could throw you out of the boat. As far as being hard to pull it sounds like you have real good compression which is not a bad thing.