Tuesday yesterday so sloped off early from work to spend the evening at the gliding club as usual. Got in the Omega, key in ignition. Nope.
Couldn't turn the sodding thing.
Fiddled about for a while then raided the service department for something lubricant as a last resort. Bit of hellerine on the key made no odds. Out with the WD40 (grr).
Eventually (45 mins later) it turned, so decided to go home and fix it rather than risk another problem.
Got the lock barrel out, intending to clean out, deburr, remove all the WD 40 and re-lubricate.
More haste, less speed. One slip and boing! springs and lock levers everywhere.
Thus began the trial-and-error process of relocating the levers into their respective slots, and the grovelling around on the floor looking for springs. Eventually found all the bits and reassembled.
Problem turned out to be the pin at the back of the lock cylinder that allows the barrel to move slightly outwards to engage the steering lock in the "OFF" position. It moves up a ramp to draw the cylinder back in and this ramp had badly worn. A few minutes with a dremel and a fine polishing stone restored it to something that looked like it might work - for now.
Back together and working smoothly, I'm happy to say.
Seemed like an ideal opportunity to have a play with a variable intermittent wiper stalk as well, so will hopefully have that working today.
Just a reminder - if your ignition key starts to feel a little graunchy, sort it out while you still have the opportunity, and take your time disassembling the barrel.
Kevin