I decided to just get a new cylinder and just be done with it. JD wanted $263.00, but I found one at
http://www.greenfarmparts.com/ for $243.00 inc. shipping and a new seat spring. My end links were bad too so getting the cylinder rebuilt would have only corrected part of the problem.
I changed the cylinder today and it took me about 2 hours. Half of that time was goofing around with metric and sae wrenches. I was also trying to figure out what a roll pin was doing in the old cylinder that the new cylinder didn't have. I finally determined that it must be there to keep the cylinder from turning. I was able to get the pin out and tap it into the new cylinder. The hardest part of the job was getting the old cylinder out because they use a Morse taper on both ends and you must use a pickle fork to get the end off the steering pivot plate. You must remove the tie rod to the left wheel and then turn the wheel as far right as possible in order to be able to get the pickle fork in there. The end that attaches to the axle can just be tapped out with a hammer. I’m not worried about boogering the threads because it’s being replaced anyway. There is very little clearance when trying to jockey the new cylinder in place. Replacing the cylinder obviously corrected the leak and the sloppy steering, but I’m still having a problem with hard steering. I think the steering valve may be going. Oh brother!!
I like the way the 425 AWS performs, but it’s been a real lemon since the day I got it. I think I may have dumped over a grand into it over the years and it just seems like there is no end to the things that go wrong with it. It has a carburetor problem too. If I wasn’t able to do the work myself, it would have driven me into the poorhouse by now.