[Bill]

The hood must be mounted with a hinge to the body of the tractor, by the firewall. Is there a pin you can remove? How does it disconnect? When you disconnect that, you should be able to lift the hood up and over the vertical exhaust pipe. Failing that, what are you afraid of? forcing the nuts that hold the muffler on and sheering the studs? If you do, it's inconvenient, but you could always remove the broken studs with an ease out, then install new studs and nuts.