OK, Got to it today. Took it apart, installed the replacement shifter and here it is ready to go back together:
A little fussing and almost back together and discover that the new/old shifter is correct in all the way instead of the shape of shifter handle... would not work!
But due to something I learned while doing this, namely, you do not have to split the tractor to get to the shifter like I was told in an earlier post. I took the shifter off and a little cut and wielding of the old and new shifter shafts, all is sweet.
Together again! Running great. Will do some paint work and then put it to work.
