I finally got time this afternoon to install the line.  Taped up the battery-starter cable where the insulation was missing (the root of the entire problem), bled the line as Chris instructed and, viola...the old girl purrs like a kitten!

The tractor sounds pretty good too! <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->  

Thanks too all for the great information I received here!

Rob