Steering column help

[james_16v]

Hi
Just replaced my faulty indicator stalk and somehow ive gone wrong somewhere because I cant get the steering wheel back on! The steering column seems to have been pushed in and is about an inch from mating up with the splines on the steering wheel. Ive tried brute force pulling it with mole grips but it isnt budging. Does anybody have any suggestions, my cars booked in to be timed at 3pm and cant get there without a steering wheel!
Cheers

[rubjonny]

take the stalks back off, refit the wheel and nut loosely, give wheel a good yank to reextend it
if stalks off doesnt give enough clearance, take the ign lock housing off as well, only 1 allen bolt holding it on.

[james_16v]

Cheers, I did try that briefly but it didn't seem to budge at all!
Ill eat a few weetabix & go and give it another go. Its not held in by anything is it or maybe some kind of 1 way mechanism?

[rubjonny]

it should collapse and extend quite easily, but theres a stop which prevents it being extended too far.  Are you sure the ign lock houisng is fitted all the way on the outer column?

[james_16v]

Doh
Top tip is always make sure to disengage the steering lock before trying to do this!!! 
Missed my garage booking too because of my stupidity 
Cheers for the help rubjonny much appreciated

[rubjonny]

ah yes, that wouldnt help