TO-20 Oil Filter Install - Port welded shut

Should I Drill hole back and close end of tube?
Does the mesh screen mount on the other tube?
(Doesn't seem like there is room for both, as tubes are close together.) What of the spring?

Any comments as to how to proceed would be greatly appreciated, as my significant other is breathing fire to get the back mowed, and it is dangerously dry .

Have ordered a manual, but it is taking awhile for delivery, and the noise is increasing.

Thanks, ~Paul

Here is a page from the parts book.

My oil filter plate is also welded shut. It was kind of tricky getting everything in place and getting the pan on! I haven’t opened it up for several years now because its such a pain. The tube that goes straight up into the center crankshaft bearing cap is what delivers oil to the filter. There should be a very small hole in the side of this pipe that the oil comes out. Don’t enlarge this hole because it could drop your oil pressure. The bottom of this pipe is where the bolt would go to hold the oil filter plate on if it wasn’t welded. So to install, slide the spring up the oil filter pipe against the bearing cap. Next there is a can with two holes in the top for the two pipes (the oil pump suction and oil filter return lines) to come down through. Then the screen goes in the can, then the filter slides on, then you put the plate on the bottom and install the bolt. The spring pushes the can and screen down against the bottom of the oil pan. Getting all of this together with the bottom welded shut will the tricky part. These engines only filter a small amount of the oil so the filter is not as critical as a full flow system so if this is not a heavily used tractor, you could just leave the filter out and change the oil more often.

Dan