Not this cowboy's best day at DIY ranch. Working on my '85 300d.

I had removed my keyswitch a while back when I was having issues with a sticky key... only to find the keyswitch was fine, it was the actual locking mechanism sticking. Finally got to it today.

Followed the DIY from the Diesel Giant site, more or less -- my lock was not jammed, which his instructions presuppose. Also looked at the FSM.

Got to the point where I had the steering column dropped and the clamp holding the lock assembly loosened off, but the lock assembly would not come out because the lock pin (the one he grinds off in the DIY) was not retracting properly. After trying to drive it back in, I gave up and ground it down.

But I still could not get the damn lock assembly out after I ground off the pin. I was able to get it to twist to the right (toward the firewall) in the tube, but not to the left at all - and I if I understood the DIY correctly he says it has to turn left to slide out.

I finally gave up and buttoned everything back up, as I was running out of daylight and I need the car for tomorrow.

So I still have the iffy lock assembly in there, though now with no steering lock. Works nice for now. Reinstalled a keyswitch.

Any advice? Have I missed something?

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22