Lock cylinder problem *found the issue*

[nvrenuf]

This is where I have to admit I've never had the upper part of the column apart.

Yeah, when you rotate the key that "actuator rack" and "sector" act like a steering rack & pinion and make the bracket (actuator rack) the rod hooks to crawl in and out which moves the slide ("pocket" referenced in the earlier pic). On my Blazer the slide part of the lower switch locked up and my key cylinder would only move between run and the accessory on positions, I couldn't roll it back to lock and remove the key.

 

[brans87]

it's not hard take your time and allow couple hours. if you get frustrated walk away I had to for a few.

 

[chris85]

This is where I have to admit I've never had the upper part of the column apart.

Yeah, when you rotate the key that "actuator rack" and "sector" act like a steering rack & pinion and make the bracket (actuator rack) the rod hooks to crawl in and out which moves the slide ("pocket" referenced in the earlier pic). On my Blazer the slide part of the lower switch locked up and my key cylinder would only move between run and the accessory on positions, I couldn't roll it back to lock and remove the key.

Yeah that’s exactly what’s going on. It’s proving quite the pain to get to though. Ha!

 

[brans87]

Pull it out chuck up in vise and clear work bench off. Grab 1 cold beer cut music on and follow the guide. Yes take you laptop out in garage to see pics clearly.

 

[chris85]

Pull it out chuck up in vise and clear work bench off. Grab 1 cold beer cut music on and follow the guide. Yes take you laptop out in garage to see pics clearly.

Yeah, I need to get more organized. Thought it was gonna be a quick fix so I got parts and pieces everywhere. Gonna leave it for now until I have more time.

 

[brans87]

step away is always good clear thoughts.

 

[chris85]

I was able to get down to the lock switch, but it’s all good. Something in the column

 

[nvrenuf]

That brings teh suck!

 

[chris85]

By far the least fun of this build

 

[chris85]

Didn’t get very far but for some reason the actuator will not move all the way forward in the housing as you can see in the pic. It’s pretty hard to see in there so I may have to do as Brans said and just pull the whole thing and do a full rebuild

 

[nvrenuf]

No likes here...

 

[chris85]

Alright I think I found the issue. I’ll try to explain this best I can in case anyone else is running into this.

So I made my shifter linkage out of stainless rod and some swivel joints, and eliminated the stock frame shifter linkage bracket. I was hoping this would help with keeping the linkage functional in situations where the frame is flexing. Thought I had it all good. It took some work to be able to hit first hear but I got it, so I thought. It looks like I was not able to engage fully into park in the column. Which cause the ingnition actuator to get blocked by the column shifter housing. You’ll see in the pics how when the housing rotates when you shift into gear the actuator gets “locked”. Hopefully this will be as simple to fix as just adjusting the linkage.

Well, now I know how to dissassmebly the steering column. Reassembling......ummmm, TBD. And with that I have now molested pretty much every piece of the jimmy (creeper stash smile)

 

[nvrenuf]

Man, lots of hard work and headache but glad you figured it out.

 

[chris85]

If you stare at something long enough eventually that little light bulb will click on



Yeah it sucked but I’m kind of glad that it’s the linkage and not the column. It’d be a lot easier to adjust a slipped shifter linkage than to tear apart the column in the woods somewhere.