thanks artben you are a true sage. plan to make sure the tension is off the tumbler henceforth by parking with the wheels in front straight and see how that works. so far so good. was actually stuck on a dark desert highway tuesday night near tobacco road when this calamity happened. luckily worked the steering wheel and solved it for the time . hasnt occurred again. will also put either lock ease spray graphite or powdered tube graphite in the ignition tumbler. would prefer the powder but havent seen that stuff in the hardware stores since the war. will owe you a mint julep or two next time im near stinking creek. thanks again oldduke