I like when it’s a good snow and not ice/wet heavy. The excessive salt is no bonus around me, rusts everything to hell. Soccer mom has to get to Starbucks, I get it. Im prepared for it so it does not bother me overall.
The handle pivots on the shaft and moves those blocks (for lack of a better term) out of the way so the “jaws” or “key” can unlatch from the pin they encircle. The shaft rusts and prevents the handle from pivoting, nothing can move because of that.
Check out the 4:20 mark in this video.
You are lubing the pivot pins (bottom of the handle) correct? That’s what was seized on mine. Some light heat with a propane or mapp gas torch and penetrating lube (50/50 acetone/atf is supposedly the best) after removing the c clips should get you moving.
I can’t be of much help but have noticed 2 spare wires in the rear on my tractor that terminate around where the rops attaches to the frame. I’m not close by or I’d take a pic for you.
Mines a 98 with about 1200hrs and no issue to date. Use oem fluids and filters, and don’t treat it like a rental and the machine will threat you well. The L35 is a beast.