Thank you Thank you Thank you. I swear I watched several videos which showed the gears went the way I had them. Turned them around and away we went... I am back in action and the mower is now running like new. I have trouble keeping up with the self propel speed!
Background - my mower's right rear drive wheel stopped rolling when trying to pivot and turn around. Dsassembled (which I have done in the past) and found the small dust cover (I think that's what it is) had been pushed away from the wheel hub and was about a 1/2" out along the drive shaft...