Bcollia, I would leave the key in and call it a night. Cover it up or be extra careful about locking your doors if you're worried about the car being stolen. Neither option is worth it if the ignition turns. Can't you remove the tumbler with the key in it with a paperclip?

Kerry, In retrospect, I would have just removed the ignition assembly. I thought I could drill out the lock tumbler and avoid having to do that, but because I broke the ignition, I obviously complicated things.

If I did it again, I would follow the diesel giant procedure for disabling the steering column lock and pulling the ignition assembly. However, I don't think you can get the assembly passed the dash easily, if at all, with the black ring and tumbler in place.

I could not turn my key, so I was probably in worst case scenario.

Cutting and drilling the lock face and tumbler was not too difficult. Just be very careful that the drill doesn't grab onto the tumbler, spin the ignition, and snap the rod inside of it like I did. I think using a smaller bit to disable the tumbler is a good idea. I used a 1/2" per advice on this thread, and it just torqued the **** out of the ignition once the tumbler gave way.

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1984 300CD

I'm curious as to whether you can get the assembly past the dash with the ring in place. Vstech (John) says he's done it. That may have been on a 126.
I'm not sure that breaking the ignition was such a bad thing. Did breaking the ignition allow the electrical portion of the switch to be removed? If the tumbler is stuck and the electrical portion of the switch as the T-lock on it, something has to be broken to get the electrical portion off.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

After reassembly, I think you can remove the ignition with the black ring in place. You just pull out the instrument cluster, drop the steering column by removing two 12mm? nuts, and pull the ignition by removing the clamp and depressing a button on the shaft that attaches it to the steering.

The problem is if your steering AND ignition are locked, I think you need to release the steering lock to pull the ignition. This is what Dieselgiant does in his DIY. I accomplished this while drilling out the tumbler.

Everything is put back together, and it doesn't look as bad as i thought. Ignition works, but I put the oblong green plastic ring inside the ignition in the wrong way, so the shut off actuates backwards. I have to leave the vac hoses to the ignition unplugged to start it, and plug them back in to shut off.

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1984 300CD

Not sure what happened with the T lock. The plug just came right off. I looked and didn't see anything that looked broken.

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1984 300CD

When I pull the ignition again to flip the green disc i'll take photos.

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1984 300CD

Sorry these are all blurry, the screen on the cam is broken!

All put together, screw driver shaft through ball bearing held down by metal cuff. I turn this with a drill chuck to start the car:


IMG_0002 by tylerrocco, on Flickr


IMG_0006 by tylerrocco, on Flickr

You can see through this because I removed the steering lock:


IMG_0008 by tylerrocco, on Flickr


IMG_0009 by tylerrocco, on Flickr

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1984 300CD

I posted this in a different thread, but perhaps this is where my modification of tumbler cylinder should be. It provided a way to use the key as always but with a jammed tumbler assembly:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2995509-post18.html

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5