Sorry for the delay. The pump was replaced due to the oil pressure being low after the engine warmed to operating temp 180-200degrees. It Would start out around 50psi the gradually drop to around 10psi. There is no abnormal sounds coming from the motor. When the oil pan was dropped there was very very minimal amount of metal shavings least non that caused any concern to me nor was there any type of trash or sludge buildup. The new replacement pump was a spot on match to the old one, so with that you could out the bolts bottoming out in the pan. Just for to rule out a bad gauge I went and got second mechanical gauge and swapped them out. Oil pressure at startup now is around 10 psi and running the tractor around 1600/1800rpms I'll see 25psi, but it will gradually drop to around 10 once the motor gets good and warmed up. I hope I answered most of the questions posted.