I can't help you with this, but I will say I have been having the same problem lately and was just about to post about it as well. The gorilla knob is taking gorilla strength to pull out sometimes and I'm afraid soon it's going to get to the same point as yours.

I wonder what is locking up? I thought it might be the interlock too; I noticed mine also can be pulled out with the key out, which isn't supposed to be possible I think. But the key cannot be turned off while the control is pulled out, so I know that is working correctly.

**************.com sells replacement start/stop controls but I'm not sure if the problem is in the switch or the linkage somewhere. Is any part of the start/stop control supposed to be lubricated, and if so, how?

-AC

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1976 240D "Katja"