Hooray! So my steering lock wouldn't unlock. Long story short, I messed with it too much and the key broke off in the ignition. Right as it broke, though, the tumbler turned freely, as if it no longer engaged the actual switch. Normally I assume this wouldn't allow the tumbler to be removed since you can't turn the tumbler to the required position. I can, though, and I got a safety pin into the tumbler release hole. But I can't get the black steel collar to unscrew.

Is there something I am missing? Lock is still engaged. Does the lock prevent this black collar from unscrewing? Help is needed, must fix before I get off at 7pm!

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1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

Ok, don't panick!

If you've got the key cylinder to turn to the ACC position and the hole in the tumbler cylinder aligns with the hole in the ignition housing then you should be in good shape.

There are 2 methods to getting the black collar off, though they both might seem like
the same they are not.

The first method is to unfold a big paper clip and stick it in the hole, you might have to
push hard. Inside the hole there is a wedge, and when you shove a wire in the hole it
pushes this wedge down. The wedge is being pushed to the center of the tumbler, not farther down the hole.

The wedge is part of a lock mechanism that locks the black shield in place. Once the wedge is pushed down it releases the shield to turn. You might have to pad a pair
of channel locks to get a good grip to start it turning. Turn off the shield and the
tumbler will pull out easily.

The second method is different.
You can use a small jewelers screw driver inserted into the hole about 1/2". If you
lever the screw driver away from the center of the tumbler you will feel a spring
loaded resistance. This is the wedge being pushed down and releasing the shield.

Some people swear by one method or the other, but in my case I have run up
against both types of situations. My original tumbler absolutely refused to have a
wire jammed into it and release the dog. I tried several times over days using different
types of wires, and using all types of force with no success. Then I switched to the
screw driver and it worked instantly with absolutely no effort what so ever. The
replacement tumbler from MB was just the opposite. It refused to open for the screw
driver. I couldn't make it work for anything. I took it back to MB as defective and
the parts guy took a paper clip and stuck it in and worked the first time! Screwdriver
still failed, paper clip worked.

Good luck!

__________________
Will W - 1984 300SD federal

No dice. I am using a relatively thick safety pin bent out. Sharp angled tip, with the point slightly bent for good connection. I feel how the wedge releases and have been practicing on my new tumbler, but no matter how hard I twist the collar it won't budge one way or the other.

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1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

I used the jewelers screwdriver on my 123 and broke it off in the hole

Seems the cheap Chinese import screwdrivers use very brittle steel stock.

I was able to fish it out with a pair of micro tipped tweezers.

I used a "jumbo" paper clip and it opened right up.

Like these: Office Depot Brand Paper Clips Jumbo Silver Box Of 100 Clips by Office Depot

__________________
The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Try turning the collar C.W. a little before pushing the paper clip in to retract the pawl. Jiggle the collar back and forth while you push the paper clip in then turn the collar C.C.W

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Thanks for the suggestions. Tried the CW, jiggle, etc methods many times. Still going to try a few more times before the wife gets here to pick me up.

Even though my tumbler turns, the steering lock is still engaged. Does that have anything to do with the collar turning?

__________________
1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

When I was trying to remove My lock Tumbler I saw what I thought was a Hole and the Wire I was using went in the hole a bit.

What I found out was that was a Roll Pin in that Hole. I had to rotate the Lock a little more Clockwise to find the actual Hole.

There is a special Tool for turning the Sleeve. I think Pelican sells it. At least you can take a look.
The tool is basically a tube that is tapered inside and lined with a soft Plastic type substance to garb onto the Sleeve when you rotate it.

The Tumbler has 2 metal blocks that rise up when you insert it and pull out the Pin. The larger Block locks into a recess inside of the Sleeve.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I have indeed considered the pin slightly CCW of the actual release hole and I'm sure I'm in the correct one. No joy tonight. Will try again tomorrow before grinding the lock pin down.

__________________
1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

Ive now tried small nails, fat paperclips, safety pins with nice points. They all engage the tang but, pin or Jo pin inserted, the collar feels the same; some slack but still locked in. Am I stuck grinding?

__________________
1984 300TD Turbodiesel - 272k
- Daily Duty
1985 300D Turbodiesel - 315k
- "Recommended for competition events only"

Sounds like that is the only choice left if by grinding you mean grind off the Pin that hold the Steering Colum Lock to the Steering Colum.

There could be another problem. On mine the original Ignition Switch as a Plastic T shaped projection that goes into the Electrical Connector on the end of the Steering Colum Lock/Ignition Switch.

If the innards of the Steering Colum Lock or the part that rotates the Ignition Switch are broke the Ignition Switch T piece will not Rotate and the Electrical Connector is not going to come out easily as the T Piece locks them together.

The New Steering Colum Lock I got came completely assembled ($144 free shipping) with the Ignition Switch. The Ne Switch does not have that T Piece. So the Electrical connector can be Pulled any time.

Yellow Circle shows T piece in the Pic.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Don't grind yet!. Get a squirt bottle of dish washing liquid and water 30/70 mix and soak the whole thing including the tumbler. Then try jiggling and turn the collar back and forth till it goes CCW. I think the pawl is just hanging up in the slot so the lube hopefully will help.

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Here's the tumbler with key in #2 position not depressed.

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

When you press the pin in, it should retract the pawl like so



This is a bad tumbler that the key won't turn. I just soaked it in soapy water and jiggled the key a few times and it turned. Soapy water works great as a lubricant in certain situations.

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

To get maximum pawl retraction, push the stiffest pin you have in and lift up (without breaking it).

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

"the collar feels the same; some slack but still locked in" when the OP said this I took it to mean the Collar is actually loose but the Pawl/Locking Block is what is holding it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel