Got the steering fixed on the 982. The piece the drag link hooks to from the steering box was worn badly so I bored it and put in a bronze bushing. The pivot bolt for the front axle was worn really bad as well, especially on the threaded end, The back half of the pivot rides on the threads, not a good idea. Took a new bolt and welded up this section and then turned it down. It really should be a fine thread bolt but I didn't have one, if coarse thread worked the first 30 years it will have to work awhile longer.
Ordered all new ball joints from McMaster-Carr. The ones on the steering box and the end of the tie-rods closest to the wheels were an exact match other than needing to drill for a cotter pin, could have substituted a lock nut if I had them handy. That's as far as I got today, my quality time with the 982 has been interrupted by a breakdown on something green and 10X's heavier. Now I have both of them scattered all over the shop.
