I was assured there was no dirt, cuttings, or objects in the oil. If I had thought of it sooner I would have had them save the filter and I would have cut it open. The cylinder Is scored and the piston defiantly has scuff marks on leading and trailing edges and the o-ring is flattened on one side like it was pinched. I have sense fabricated a support out of 1" bar stock that pivots on bolts attached to the tow bar support below the pto shaft and extends up under the lift arms. A cable is run through a pulley and up through the floor board to a lever on the left side of the seat above and behind the parking break lever. To support the lift arms, raise them all the way up pull on the lever and hold until you lower the arms down onto them. To release just raise the arms up again and gravity lets them fall away. A small chain keeps it from falling to far and getting in the way of the PTO shaft going to the implement. The pivoting pto shaft shield had to be removed. I have put over 150 hrs. on the tractor sense the repair without the support with no problems. Will see what happens in the future.