I got a bit more done on the 682 today. I found a better source for some of the metal I need for the loader subframe, but I can't pick it up until Monday. I did get my steering column back together. Here's all the shiny new parts and the cleaned old parts:
The surface of the pivot bolt was very rough for some reason, so I polished it with emery paper, and then wiped it down with mineral spirits. Actually, I cleaned all of the parts I was re-using with mineral spirits to remove anything that may have gotten into the while they were sitting around the past week. I was rather surprised how poorly the new $25 follower stud matched the profile of the worm:
Last year I ordered new bearing races for the steering box for the 100 I was going through, and the races were square and didn't fit right. Someone else here ran into this recently, too. I have since learned that using the really cheap ($10) IH-71930-C91 kit with two bearings, retainers, and races fits properly in the steering box, unlike the separate races I tried to get last year. Just thought I'd pass that along...if you're rebuilding a steering box, that's the thing you need, and it doesn't show up in the parts lookup diagram.
I got the box completely assembled, complete with Nice 605V thrust bearing and nylock nut.
I then installed it into the tractor, replaced the tie rod ends on the drag link with Heim joints, and put the steering wheel on temporarily (with anti-seize so I don't have to go through the same shenanigans to remove it again if I need to) and...wow! Steers like new! I can't wait to drive it.
I put hose clamps around the top and bottom of the box to hopefully strengthen it and avoid splitting it in half along the mold line.