If it takes two hands to turn the wheel as you say, there could be a couple of different issues. The front wheel spindles could be worn/rusty/ or otherwise binding up, if you unbolt the drag link from the gear box and raise the front of the tractor, they should turn back and forth pretty easy.
Second thing, often times there is so much wear or the gear box is so loose that the cam follower doesn't fit well into the steering shaft and when you turn the wheel the center shaft tries to push the cam follower straight out instead of in the up and down motion that it is supposed to go. There are also several other issues with the gear box that can cause it to become difficult to turn, that just rebuilding the unit will take care of.
I believe the nice 605 bearing does help some, but just rebuilding and properly adjusting the gear box will help immensely.
Be sure to straighten the lever before you put it back together, it will make adjusting the gear much easier and it will also give you much smoother action when turning the wheel.
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