On the top link a standard category 1 pin was to short the way it was when bought it.acording to what I can tell this piece pictured is suppose to raise up and the frame supports fasten with one big bolt.how exactly should it go?
Yours is arranged like that. That picture has the tractor attachment point flopped over towards the rear.
The top link is installed into the open part and is lengthened to allow the rear of the mower to move up and down to follow the ground better. It also keeps the mower from forcing the top link into the tractor if the rear of the mower is lifting higher as the tractor goes through a ditch.