How to remove shifter driver platform from Super C?

Well I"m sure you all know how one things leads to another. I started out just removing the radiator to fix a leak. Figured, I might as well clean things up while I have it all apart, might as well clean the whole engine while I"m at it, might as well fix the steering,, might as well adjust the valves, might as well replace some of those worn wires, might as well replace the broken temp gauge, might as well fix the lights and wiring, etc etc, you know how it goes.

So now that I cleaned/degreased the entire engine might as well paint it so it doesn"t rust, dang, can"t paint just half the tractor, so I keep cleaning further and further back. Get to the tranny housing and why is it so oily, I just power washed it last year. I discover where the cover/driver platform meets the tranny housing is weeping oil, it appears as if the gasket that is supposed to be there is either completely gone, hanging out and/or missing substantial pieces. Some previous owner somehow wedged a wire for a rear work light into where the gasket should be such that there is now a visible gap.

So the dominoe effect continues. I now need to clean up the rear of the tractor, but no point cleaining and painting it only to have it immediately be covered in oil again.

So I need to lift up the tranny cover, it has a FastHitch, so I"ll have to deal with all that hardware.

My main question is will the shift lever come out with the tranny cover. According to the parts diagram I got from the CaseIH website it appears it will. Is it a royal pain to reinstall?

Does the tranny have to be in neutral for this, I assume it does? I intend to prop the tractor up on jacks on the rear axles, but should I leave it on it"s tires to do this in case I need to rock the gears/shifter forks a little for reinstall?

The parts diagram shows some springs and gear shift poppet balls, are those going to flying out or sink to the the bottom of the tranny?

All I want to do is lift it up, clean it up , regasket and reinstall. Any tips / advice?

Thanks,

Just put the shifter in neutral & lift straight up. Nothing will fall out; carefully clean the mating surfaces before re-assembly using a sharp scraper and chemical so a good seal can be re-established. Use a light to see if the shifter forks align with the proper gear. It is very helpful to have a cherry picker supporting the cover so it is level when setting it down on the new gasket.
Enjoy!