Ford 860 Oil Pick-up Tube

I was recently changing the oil on a ford 860 I just acquired and noticed that when I removed the oil pan plug there was no screen attached to it, so I ordered a new plug with screen. When I went to install the new plug, it would not go into the pan, and it was then that I noticed that the oil pick-up tube (probably not the correct term) was bent and off to the side in the pan opening (so there was no way to get the screen up into the pan). I have a couple questions related to this I was hoping you all could help me with:

1) Is there any harm to running it without the screen on the plug? I talked to a local guy and he said he rarely sees any accumulation of debris on the screen and by changing the oil filter with each oil change I should be fine - is this good advice?

2) Even though the tractor runs 40-50 lbs of pressure consistently, should the fact that the tube bent cause concern (is it more likely to fail or quit working)?

On another note, the proofmeter does not work. I just replaced the cable and that did not help. I disconnected the cable from the proofmeter, ran the tractor and the cable is spinning. Would the next step be to replace the proofmeter?

I am still learning about these tractors so any feedback would be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance!

Brett

if the cable spins and nada on the meter. sounds like bad meter.

as for the tube? if it was a lil off.. you can tilt the wire cup on the cap and feed it up in. say 1/4" off or so and it will give enough to work. if bent more than that.. the wire cup won't go in.

I'd be hesitant to bend on it without the pan off to see what i was doing.