Re: mercury 135 stumbles/stalls when put in gear
i have also set the timing to factory settings.
Perhaps your idle speed RPM is too slow and shifting into gear kills the motor because of the added load.
You probably already know this if you did a link and sync according to the shop manual, but idle speed timing is typically specified as a range (e.g., 0 - 9 degrees ATDC) and the actual idle speed timing should be whatever it takes to get the motor to idle within the proper RPM range (as specified in the shop manual) with the motor in the water and in gear. If idle speed timing is set with the motor in neutral, then idle speed is probably set too slow.
This is just one suggestion. Others on the forum may have additional or better suggestions.