79 280SE

[Nab]

Nice work, my seat is a bit soft and the repair looks pretty straightforward.
Shame about the ignition barrel though...

 

[Michel]

That is seriously annoying.
I believe there’s a way of removing the barrel with the key inside. But it’s a serious dismantling job. I don’t recall how, but I remember half of the column had to come out
I feel for you mate.

 

[Patrick_R]

Couldn’t agree with Michel more.
Horrible job on any vehicle.
Hope it goes well

 

[c107]

well good news after a few hours of trying, i got the key to turn. i was able to move the car out of the way and get a tiny allen key into the slot. couldn't get the collar to move, but I have ordered a special tool to do so;

Stuck W116 ignition barrel – part 1

I was quite keen to start using the 280SE more now I have sorted out the steering, exhaust and drivers seat. I don't have a modern car, so I rotate the var

www.classicjalopy.com

 

[Patrick_R]

Generally this happens due to the soft key material wearing faster than the harder pins inside the ignition barrel.
So unless you have a better, or a key that isn’t worn, both key & barrel may need replacing.

 

[Michel]

well good news after a few hours of trying, i got the key to turn. i was able to move the car out of the way and get a tiny allen key into the slot. couldn't get the collar to move, but I have ordered a special tool to do so;

Stuck W116 ignition barrel – part 1

I was quite keen to start using the 280SE more now I have sorted out the steering, exhaust and drivers seat. I don't have a modern car, so I rotate the var

www.classicjalopy.com

Oh great stuff....
Congratulations.

 

[c107]

After making a breakthrough getting the key to turn, I still can't get that collar off.
the special tool I ordered was out of stock, so I got a refund but no tool. I'm trying a different vendor, but meanwhile also trying to get that collar off. I've done this on a W123 and W126 and this bit wasn't hard at all. Given this W116 is a 79, it has the 3rd type of tumbler, like a 123 or 126 car.

I've tried various tools to try and grip it, removing the cluster to see if there is more access from the top (not really) or the lower trim, to see if there is access from the bottom (even less).

I've tested how far I can get the tiny screwdriver in the hole on my spare tumbler, and i'm getting it in enough to unlock the tab. So not sure why its so tight here.

 

[c107]

Even with the special tool, the collar won’t budge. May end up removing the whole steering lock. Not looking forward to that as I hear it’s a big job. At least the lock is released.

 

[Patrick_R]

Good luck

 

[c107]

I managed to get a used steering lock from Styria, however, because I can't get the collar and tumbler out of my existing lock, I can't remove it from the car.

The lock sticks through the dash, and while the front of the dash is soft, there is a metal backing that means I can't withdraw the steering lock. I think without the collar there would be enough clearance to push push it behind the dash backing. The steering lock mechanism is about 10cm long, and by unscrewing the steering column and pushing it down a bit, I can get about 2cm out.

 

[c107]

Some photos for illustration:

 

[Patrick_R]

What a nightmare this has been for you Bryce.

 

[Pete49]

From memory (been a while) there's a button on the steering lock you depress and the whole lot comes out. Then you unscrew the back section (cable section) and you can work on it on the bench. I can't remember if the key needs to be in the 1st or 2nd position to press the button on the locking part. Also just to be a pain some of the locks didn't have a pinhole at the front under the cap to release the cylinder. On my previous 300TE ('82) I had to remove the whole ignition and lock to get the cap off. Putting it back in was a much easier job if that's any consolation. Being a locksmith didn't help much either.
Pete

 

[Pete49]

Bryce I have had much success using a sander (without sandpaper) to encourage the key to turn. The vibrations help move the wafers if the key is worn or the lube has dried up and just a little pressure on the key is all that's needed. Love the spring repair, very clever.
Pete

 

[c107]

From memory (been a while) there's a button on the steering lock you depress and the whole lot comes out. Then you unscrew the back section (cable section) and you can work on it on the bench. I can't remember if the key needs to be in the 1st or 2nd position to press the button on the locking part. Also just to be a pain some of the locks didn't have a pinhole at the front under the cap to release the cylinder. On my previous 300TE ('82) I had to remove the whole ignition and lock to get the cap off. Putting it back in was a much easier job if that's any consolation. Being a locksmith didn't help much either.
Pete

Thanks Pete,
I finally managed to get the key to position 1 (and then i left it there and disconnected the battery) so I can press that button and the lock starts to slide. But because the collar is still on, it fouls against the dashboard and I can't push it any further. Looking at the spare Ignition lock I got from Styria, it seems like if the collar was off it would just miss the dashboard and slide right out.

 

[Styria]

It was years ago that I removed some of the Ignition locks with a certain amount of difficulty. I did remove the timber trim at the time, and I think this enabled me to physically remove the whole assembly. However, it could well be that I had already been dismantling many of the components in order to get to the lock. Frustrating not to be able to assist more positively. Regards Styria

 

[Pete49]

I did (from memory) push it clear of the dash and turned it slightly to clear but used a fair bit of force but it does turn a little.

 

[c107]

Thanks, I'll have a go at that.

 

[c107]

I wasn't able to get it out, but I was able to use the second steering lock to move the car so I can have somebody else look at the car.
The first ignition lock is still in, stuck in the #1 position.
The second one is plugged into the car, into the electrical connector so I can start the car using that.

 

[Pete49]

How about a dremel and cut the top of the cover and prise it off? Not the best solution I know but if needs must.