HD-7 Ignition Problem

1. The manual shows a plunge pedal starter. As I understand the book, you push on the pedal and it forces the gear forward into the flywheel, and when the pedal is pushed far enough forward it hits a contact switch which engages the electric starter. Ours does not have this plunge pedal, and never has as far as I can remember. We have a toggle type switch on the dash. One leg of the toggle swich appears to attach to the same stud that the negative cable from the battery does. The other leg attaches to the stud on the side of the starter. I have power to the main battery cable on the end of the upper part of the starter. For whatever reason, I cannot get the starter to work. It makes no noise, doesn't turn motor, ect. Without the plunge pedal, (that we have never had and always started it years ago) how would the starter plunger engage the flywheel. Was this a common problem that would have been retrofitted years ago?

2. I cannot seem to budge the master clutch, and I can't seem to shift the gears. I am wondering if some time over the past many years, maybe the tractor was pushed to its spot where it sits now, or maybe bumped. I think the masterclutch is in its forward position, so it should be disengaged. I am thinking it it were bumped at some time, while the transmission was in gear (R), could the transmission be resting on the gear and we need to bump it again to disengage the shifter?

3) Any reason the masterclutch could be stuck in position (forward)? The tractor is located in the snow in the mountains, but I don't think it could be frozen.

4) Can the tractor be towed by cable by placing in nuetral? Probably a dumb question, but I'd rather ask than learn the hard way.

5) Is there a recommended way of trying to hand crank the motor to see if its free before I try cranking it?

6) Any other recommendations of reviving the tractor?

7) Did all tractors come with the air warmer? Ours does not seem to have one.

Many Thanks.

Dave