Hi N1KK0,
I feel your "tension" after reading that.
So you are absolutely sure it's not an adjustment that needs to be done on the machine?
Maybe try calling mower shops out of your area if the nearest one(s) aren't helping.
Surely a wear item like that on a professional machine like yours would be a matter of routine if they are serving professional mowers. Some still use the 550 pro series for the tougher stuff.
It dismays me the lack of expertise in this country when trying to fix anything and how common it is to get the bum steer from self defined experts.

Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!