I just finished taking my 245dt apart to replace a pto shaft seal. Very labor intensive. Your high low adustment is not as you would think. It goes through the case and another rod is welded onto the horizintal shaft and collar that you see on the outside of case. My lever was broken off about 10 years ago and was replaced with a small pair of vice grips. Little did I know that they would be on there for ten years. After removing the top of the tractor as well as splitting the tractor today- the high /low was repaired by mig welding a rod and ball where the original broke off. I would suggest you do the same...