Gear shift quadrant question

My 730LP has the optional 5th gear. Most of the numbers indicating the gear positions are ground off. So for a restoration, what is the best thing for me to do? I checked the parts manual and there was an optional quadrant for this, but it appears to have a different style pad with wider bolt hole spacing where the steering support casting bolts up to it on top. I saw one on ebay recently. (small photo) Didn't buy it because it was butchered up and wouldn't bolt up anyway. Some time ago there was a good article in one of the magazines that explained the optional gearing. I think in there it said that with installation of the optional gear, the quadrant was to simply be relabled. I've looked and looked but can't find that article. If anyone knows what issue it was in, I would appreciate them letting me know. Otherwise any suggestions?

Either way I have lately been using yellow paint on my numbers anyhow and would just paint them on and you won't hardly notice.

The reason I have been highlighting them in yellow is for saftey. I got to having so many different tractors with different shift patterns. And it always seemed like I was loading them up at night or dusk and with the eyes getting older it was too darn hard to see what gear I was going into. So i got the yellow and a small brush while I still got a steady hand and highlighted them. So po po to the correct police it just may keep them from getting backed over.

Those high speed 5th quadrants are not nearly as rare as some sellers would have you believe. They are out there. Quadrants are not often broken, and in need of replacement. I think this makes it on your side. Wait for one to sell on ebay. As long as it is not coming from a parts dealer the price will be reasonable. It should be easy/inexpensive to ship. There are lots and lots of 720/730 gas/LP tractors out there for you to get parts from if your restoration can wait.

If you are in a rush you may have to go with Pat's suggestion with the stickers. I think his suggestion was very tasteful. IT would not bother me at all on your tractor, but I dont think it would satisfy me (I'm hard to deal with). If you have a little time then you may want to wait until you can find one.

And if you are really blessed, there is an accommodating vinyl sign maker in town who will make some nice individual vinyl decal numbers for you. If this turned out to be the case, you could take all of them down full flat, and then affix the decals.

I always say, if you can't make it original, make it at least as good or even better -- redo the engineering -- in keeping with Deere workmanship & quality standards!

The alternative (and fall-back position), of course, is to keep up the hunt for a replacement that wasn't modified. My two cents worth -- into an area not my expertise! (PatB)

• Restoration Site, JD-H