Well, I put the tractor rear end up on some jack stands for about 3 months while I was too busy for it. I took the RH rear drive off, ordered new bearings for it just because I had it off (if you buy them not thru Deere it's about $50 for all 3). I noticed a metal piece sitting in the bottom of the center section after the fluid was all drained. The piece "looked" like it would go to a spyder gear based on the size/shape.
The RH rear drive is sitting in the garage ready to be taken apart and reassembled. Fast forward to April...
I had my oldest son a couple weeks ago remove the top portion of the rear end so we could get closer for inspection of gears. After turning the drive shafts, sure enough, we found the broken spyder gear. It's the one that is on the RH side.
Parts are ordered, should be here today. If I have the time to get to it this weekend, that would be awesome, plus I'd be amazed! I would guesstimate I need 4-8 hours to finish it all up, since I still need to disassemble the locking diff, brakes, spyder gear assembly and the RH drive...then reassemble.
I really need my tractor back too! I have to clear some land for a barn asap.