Topic: YJ Ignition Actuator Rack

[jagular7]

What a freakin' day for my 94 YJ.
Had issue with ignition trying to rotate. It was binding up some place in the column. Searched internet and it appears I'm the first with this issue.
Pulling steering wheel no problem but there was another backing plate with a snap ring. Needed another tool!
Pics do not show what the diagram does. I had 2 'springs' disengage and one was in the ignition switch actuator rack. That was binding the capability to rotate the switch.
My guess on what they are suppose to do is to provide a spring back action so that the starter disengages on that cam. This is viewing the diagram pic.

This video helped in getting the correct tool to remove the backing plate.
http://youtu.be/f3iRR4lzJgk?t=2m53s#aid=P97ZPtXkceY

Lets hope the reassembly is quicker and it operates correctly.

[Jeffy]

So the one with the loop popped off the cam and was binding when you turned it because it was running into the spring?

[jagular7]

That spring with the coil dislodged its free end in the cam slot and went into the teeth of the rack. I couldn't rotate the key switch to 'run' position, let alone start.

Removed it totally since it was hooked on the end of the steering wheel lock rod. I suspect by rotating the cam backward (by rotating key towards driver), the spring slid the steering wheel lock rod into the wheel. I've owned this YJ for 4 yrs. Never had steering wheel lock work. So I removed that spring and removed the lock rod as well (cut with grinder and slid it out in 2 pcs).
I rebent the '7' spring to keep it in the cam.

Put everything back together (had slight trouble with the bright light switch rod with multi-switch), and it all works. Only had to recenter the steering wheel twice....lol (even with my marks).

Now I have to remember how to operate the radio and set my time and stations all over again.