Help putting ignition lock back in

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KingBee

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1979 tilt column. Took it all apart lubed thing up and replaced bearings. Having trouble lining up the toothed retractor piece that pulls the ignition bar.

I thought I had everything in place correctly....but ignition lock doesn’t rotate fully. It will not turn all the way back to the lock position.

Seems like the linkage piece isn’t fully seated or something?????

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
 

roundhouse

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Just gotta keep messing with it

Some of them you can flip end to end
To make it line up easier
 

KingBee

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That little actuator rack is about to make me crazy. Well, crazier than I already was.
 

roundhouse

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If you’re like most of us
Its a pretty short trip to crazy

That rack is a real pain
Make sure yours is not broken
Or missing teeth

I had to flip mine several times and keep messing with the ign key

Also the switch on the bottom of the column is adjustable the mounting holes are slotted

I usually unhook the bottom switch and get the rack and lever working right and then hook the switch break up

Make sure to use lock tight on the screws that always come loose and make the tilt part flop around
 
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KingBee

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It seems as if the collar on the ignition bar is bottoming out on the housing keeping the actuator from retracting fully.

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KingBee

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It won’t fully retract for lock position and won’t engage the bar forward for the steering plate lock.

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KingBee

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Can the switch be adjusted?
 

Goldie Driver

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Can the switch be adjusted?


Yes - it slides on it's 2 mounting screws.

Take it all the way off and confirm that there is not something else wrong - are you sure the rack is hooked correctly on the ignition rod ?

No wires - or wire loom - interfering with the movement of the rod ?
 

KingBee

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I have checked. Double checked. Triple checked the toothed actuator and ignition linkage rod.

I’m led to believe that there must be something out of alignment on the black toothed wheel part.

No wires installed right now. 1979 so no highbeams or any other parts
 

Goldie Driver

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I have checked. Double checked. Triple checked the toothed actuator and ignition linkage rod.

I’m led to believe that there must be something out of alignment on the black toothed wheel part.

No wires installed right now. 1979 so no highbeams or any other parts

Turn signal switch wires, and cruise if equipped.

Unless you have the wrong rack or sector gear, not sure what else could be going on ...
 

Goldie Driver

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Is your steering lock pin in there correctly ? I cannot tell from the pic.
 

chengny

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1979 tilt column. Took it all apart lubed thing up and replaced bearings. Having trouble lining up the toothed retractor piece that pulls the ignition bar.

I thought I had everything in place correctly....but ignition lock doesn’t rotate fully. It will not turn all the way back to the lock position.

Seems like the linkage piece isn’t fully seated or something?????

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the factory procedure from the 1985 Service Manual. Seems that the cylinder must be removed in the RUN position:

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roundhouse

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I’ve done a couple that had a crack in the rack part that was enough to jam up the gears
 

Goldie Driver

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Ever get this resolved ?

Hope so !

Britt
 

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