Is there a spring in there also?
Yes, it is under the bolt in the pic of the top cover. The detent ball was small enough to fall out when I removed the shift rod, but the spring is too long to make the corner. I'll likely have to remove that bolt to reinstall the rod, and drop the ball and spring in, after.
I don't think you're in far enough to worry about this, but I fought a Toyota Hilux 5 speed with a buddy until we figured out a little shuttle pin (my term) between two of the fork shafts had worn just enough to let both clusters shift. If you notice any wear in those small parts, I'd replace them.
I cant even imagine how bad that probably sucked to figure out. Thats one you laugh about later for sure - and are proud of.
It's good advice and I agree. Part of the reason I'm replacing things like the fan, orings, sleeve, temp sensor (that is currently installed). Better to do now than tear it back apart.
BTW, in all this discussion we haven't been given the opportunity to critique your choice of tractor
. Are you planning on keeping it, do you need it?
LOL...I think this tractor chose me!
I am planning to keep it. I'm a fan of old diesels that dont have a bunch of "smart" stuff put in them yet. Ive got an old 2-wire start generac 25k Diesel genset on a transfer switch that is the same. Just a governor, a coolant temp cutoff, and an oil pressure cutoff. Parts are the challenge sometimes, but they are so much easier to work on.
Do I need it? Technically, no. I have a bobcat that I can do practically anything with. I mow, clear, pull trees, 8' disc, and a couple of years ago, I even took an old 3-point brush hog log splitter that I bought for $300, flipped it upside down, and made a skid steer log splitter out of it. Nothing like splitting logs in the A/C in texas, or in the heat in Winter for that matter. Here's some pics:
While I dont "need" a tractor, I've wanted one to do the tractor stuff, like discing, mowing, etc. And now that we have cows, I'll be clearing some more small pasture for them, and trying to hay some of the small pastures we dont have fenced yet.
Tractor implements seem to be quite a bit cheaper than Skid Implements, too, which I attribute to not needing a hydraulic motor on every attachment. So all pluses.
As a side note, a tractor is also nice because you can climb off the side, while a load is in the air. I cant do that safely with the bobcat, so I dont do it. Things like filling feeders, hoisting, slinging chain is all easier when you can get out of the equipment with a load in the air.
So to drag out that answer...yes, I want to keep it for a lot of reasons. As you said, it seems like a capable mid-HP tractor, complete with implements.
But lets hear everyone's thoughts on the choice of the tractor as well.
Also, I meant to remind you to keep an eye on your fuel and fluid, including after you reinstall the loader. No telling what you'll break loose. I'd consider some algaecide in the fuel.
Thanks for that reminder. If all checks out, I'm going to do a full fluid filter change, including fuel. I also want to make sure that key warning lights come on like coolant temp, hyd temp, oil sure, etc...even if I have to wire up after market lights on the dash. And good call on the algicide. Our off road diesel comes with it...so as mentioned, depending on how much is left in the tank, I will likely just drain what's in the tank and go with fresh.
Still a long way to go on this. Especially if I re-paint it. I'm torn on doing that, because I dont want to just rattle can it and have it look like crap. So I may just leave it the way it looks.
. I hadnt noticed it because the clutch pedal still has a significant amount of downward travel left, even with it under this bar. So After getting it on top of the bar (unlocked), the PTO stopped turning by hand. 
