2 stage blower liftcassist spring tension handle won't move fully downward

[Panther416-8 341]

Hopefully one last hurdle to get over. I'm at the step where the lift assist spring tensioning handle is pushed fully downward while the blower is in the raised position.  It will not move fully downward and when I operate the lift to lower the blower it snaps back up and bangs the heck out of the bottom of the hood. I realize why it's not traveling fully downward.  On the right side of the tractor at top mounting point for the spring it appears the handle can't go fully downward because the piece is binding on the bolt head (red bolt head in photo) from the front attach a matic. It looks like a slight grind on that so it has clearance to continue rotating might be the answer but I'm looking to the seasoned experts that have installed these two stages before. Anyone else encounter this?

Matt

[Panther416-8 341]

Got it. Perhaps the lift arm was not only bent but had a very high weld on the inside where it mates up against the attach a matic. Grinding a little more than 1/8" off and not using a washer on the outside where the hairpin goes allowed the wholesale to slide over enough in the attach a matic to allow the other side to clear and rotate when the handle down into position. 

[Panther416-8 341]

Whole shaft not wholesale 

[lynnmor 7,302]

That red thingy that you have behind the spring goes inside the spring.

 

When mounting or removing the blower, you will learn to have several thicknesses of corrugated cardboard protecting the hood.

[JCM 9,130]

28 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

That red thingy that you have behind the spring goes inside the spring.

 

When mounting or removing the blower, you will learn to have several thicknesses of corrugated cardboard protecting the hood.

 

[Panther416-8 341]

On 11/28/2022 at 7:34 PM, lynnmor said:

That red thingy that you have behind the spring goes inside the spring.

 

When mounting or removing the blower, you will learn to have several thicknesses of corrugated cardboard protecting the hood.

Yep, that's in place now. Thanks