I know the feeling. Any mower selvage yards around where you live, check E-Bay. I use used parts when ever I can find them because they run about 1/2 the price of new. Some of the older mowers you can't always find new parts.
Found one at a mower junk yard today, It,s a massive yard and with all stuff there I could only find ONE. I got lucky. Thanks forum for the help though.