QUOTE: The splines inside the coupler are perfect. Looks brand new except for the fact that it looks about 40 years old.
That's the way they are designed to work. If nobody cobbled the steering then only the rag is supposed to wear. Obviously, you wouldn't want your steering coming loose!
Sounds like you got the wrong rag.... I would have to measure... It should be the diameter of the collar. Do the holes even line up?