'90 300E Ignition tumbler replace - HELP !

[Andy_M]

OK, so I searched and read all the stuff on here on the trials and tribulations of doing this. I bought myself a 1.5mm dia bicycle spoke and made up a tool. Keep in mind I have my eye and a dremmel to make the "important" angle of 60 deg on this thing, so I do the best I can.

I could not get both sides to go in at the same time, so I believe my width was a little off. I cut the tool into 2 "L" shaped tools and the angles are indicated by the "L", so I know how they are oriented at any time. Then I got both sides to go all the way in fairly easily.

According to all the stuff I read, the tool should go in about 1.2" to engage the dogs that release the black cylinder, and mine appear to be going in about 1.4" when it seems to bottom out. This is where the progress stops though. No matter what I do, how much I jiggle the black cylinder or the key halves, I can not get even a HINT of the black cylinder breaking loose. I have spent HOURS and HOURS with this thing. Can anyone tell me what, if anything, I might be doing wrong?

I'm debating whether to buy the Mercedes tool from ZDMAC tonight, or just leave it torn apart and drive it, and the new tumbler, to the MB dealer and tell them to replace the tumbler and charge me for it.