Update: After gathering all my parts, I finally got some wrench time Saturday on the 682. Since I had gotten the carb off and cleaned earlier in the week, I installed rebuild kit, put the carb back on the tractor, drained the 2+ year old gas out of the tank, changed the oil, installed the new fuel pump, new fuel line, new engine shroud, and finally turned the key. After the carb got primed, she fired right up. Before, the choke would have to be 80-90% of the way out to run, but as for the rest of yesterday, I didn't even need it out to start it again. I took it for as easy test spin around the block and once I was confidant everything was in order, I hooked the deck up and test mowed a strip of yard. Worked great so I pulled her back up to the house and shut her off. Let her cool down and changed the transmission filter and fluid. Fired it back up and went back to mowing. Even found some heavy, think weeds out back to test her out on. She didn't even know it was cutting down 1ft tall think weeds at 3/4 throttle, very impressed by the 682, as long as it doesn't throw a rod she's got plenty of power
Thanks guys for the advice on this one and thank you to rweaver for helping out with the engine shroud, you'll be hearing from me again on other parts
Gunk build-up wasn't too bad, worst part was getting whatever gasket sealer the PO put on off, stuff was like solid rubber everywhere
