Problem getting tumbler aligned to remove
 

Howdy folks,

I have a tumbler that is kaput for my 84 300SD and am having some trouble getting everything aligned to push in the pin so I can unscrew the lock barrel sleeve. On the front the indestructible metal cover is spinning freely of the rest of the tumbler so I do not know when I have everything aligned right

http://sygma6.net/pix/car/crap01.jpg


So, I am thinking since the green plastic on the rear does move with the tumbler if we assume that the pin on the left for the vacuum connection is 12 O'clock where should the middle of the rounded plastic bit (red dot) be so that everything is aligned to insert a pin to unscrew the lock barrel sleeve?

http://sygma6.net/pix/car/crap02.jpg

Thanks a lot for your advice.

The position is when the key is 'on'. It's the position that turns on the accessory idiot lights and causes the buzzer to activate. If you look carefully, perhaps shining a strong light onto the assembly, you may be able to see the hole into which something needs to be inserted. A skinny jeweler's screwdriver is a better tool to insert than a straightened paperclip in my opinion.

been there
 

I went thru the same ordeal a few months ago. The front face was broken from the rest of the tumbler.

X2 what Kerry said --- I used the biggest paperclip I could find and had to grind it down a bit to get it into the hole. A jeweler's screwdriver would work a lot better.

Be careful with a jewelers screwdriver
 

I recently changed my cylinder on my 123 and tried using a jewelers screwdriver. The metal they use to make these especially the ones from China are very brittle. I found this out the very hard way.

Fortunately i managed to get the cylinder unlocked and I was able to unscrew the ring and fish out the broken piece of the screwdriver.

Just sayin, this could have turned out real bad if I hadn't gotten lucky with the collar releasing in spite of the broken screwdriver in the pocket.:eek:

I found the "jumbo" size paper clip fits the release mechanism perfectly without having to do anything to it other than unfolding it.