I'm still working on re-assembling a tilt steering ignition system. I got the column freed up enough to get the broken steering lock lever in place( thanks Franklin2) and am trying to put all back together. There is a geared casting that transfers movement from the keyed ignition cylinder through a gear embedded in the column shroud. Twist the key and the gear pushes the actuator assembly forward. The assembly is connected to the steering lock lever by a pin. All of this applies pressure ignition actuator rod and activates the starter motor.

If you've been here you know what I'm talking about. My problem is getting the teeth on the actuator assembly to mesh with the round gear that the ignition cylinder turns. When I took the steeringing column apart to access the broken lock lever this just fell out. Now I'm concerned that if the gears don't mesh I can start the motor but will be unable to turn the cyliner back to the off position.

 

Just put it together and see what you have. I think the first one I did, I put it back together and ended up one tooth off. So I figured in my head which way I needed to move the gear, and took it apart again. Steering columns are not much fun.

When I went to the Ford dealer to ask advice when I was doing it, they sent me to one specific guy. "He does the steering columns". What does that tell you?

 

That number of teeth has been a concern but. I'm still at the point where I can't get the toothed assembly meshed with the gear from the ignition cylinder. Do I need to pop out the snap ring that holds the gear into the shroud(column cover), lift out the gear, slide the assembly back into the shroud and then re-engage the gear. Or is there an easier way to do this. I had hoped that since it fell out that I could just push them back together. That obviously didn't work so well. Unfortunately, when I went into the dealership the mechanics weren't a lot of help.

 

I am not sure. I am not a expert on these things, and struggle myself. I believe I did have the key tumbler out of it also when I did mine, but I don't know if that would be any help.

 

I think if you remove the snap ring and round gear(may be a washer or shim also?), then assemble the rest of the actuator parts, setting the electrical switch in place over the rod and tightening it down, you should then be able to look at the part of the key switch that fits in the gear and see where the gear needs to be positioned. Then before you put the key switch back in, I'd try it with a screwdriver to make sure everything's correct.