W123 ignition and steering column lock saga, Afraid to reinstall lock assembly now. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ykobayashi · #1 07-06-2021, 07:28 PM

Here it is. Post#9.

Replacing (?) the steering lock

Another example of the mountain of wisdom on this forum.

gregp1962 · #2 07-07-2021, 05:08 PM

[QUOTE=ykobayashi;4176904]Here it is. Post#9.

Replacing (?) the steering lock

I'm not going to put it back together until I have more confidence in this lock assembly. The post #9 doesn't seem to be addressing my problem though. Do I need to get into the innards of the assembly to see why it won't turn even without the tumbler in? With the assembly out of the car, it is a LITTLE BIT easier to turn the lock with a screw driver. But, I'm not even able to slide the tumbler into the assembly. There is a less than 1 1mm gap before it will slide in all the way. (1st pic red arrow.)
I'm thinking that I need to get into the inside of the assembly and remove the locking pin at the end of the assembly. (2nd pic red arrow)

ykobayashi · #3 07-08-2021, 10:15 AM

[QUOTE=gregp1962;4177059]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ykobayashi

. Do I need to get into the innards of the assembly to see why it won't turn even without the tumbler in? With the assembly out of the car, it is a LITTLE BIT easier to turn the lock with a screw driver. But, I'm not even able to slide the tumbler into the assembly. There is a less than 1 1mm gap before it will slide in all the way. (1st pic red arrow.)
I'm thinking that I need to get into the inside of the assembly and remove the locking pin at the end of the assembly. (2nd pic red arrow)

Ok, I’m starting to remember this thing. Your tumbler is out. Where you jam your screwdriver in to turn the mechanism I believe there is a little wedge that has to be pushed to the side before the lock can rotate. As I recall it wasn’t as easy as turning with a screwdriver…you needed to slide this bar to the side while turning. Mentioned in the post#9 I suggested. Assuming you have done this and it still won’t turn with a screwdriver, there is probably an internal part that is worn or broken.

In that case you need to replace the steering lock mechanism or disassemble it as you suggested by pulling the little rectangular door on the side. There may be broken stuff in there like Bill mentioned.

At this point I just quit and ordered a used replacement lock and saved my old tumbler.

It would be fun to rip into the thing and see why it failed. More so get it working again by modifying it.

From the suggested post #9

Quote:

After key is removed and wheel centered a lever under the cylinder pops up and bolt goes into steering column. This lever must be depressed for key to turn. When it is working right, the tip of the key depresses this lever and lock can be turned. When it sticks and it is not due to the cylinder, I think it's due to this lever not being depressed enough to allow steering lock to be turned.

I may be wrong on this but my feeling is the lock won’t turn if this little lever isn’t pushed aside even if you grind of the steering pin. It effectively locks the rotation of the mechanism.

From an old post by diesel911