Steering column lock on 78 series landcruiser

Well Toyota sure aren't! I had a similar issue on my 105 series except I was lucky enough to have it jam in the assesory position. This allows a small button to be pushed underneath the tumbler so that the whole thing can be removed. With a pair of pointy nose plyers you can then start the car although the key still needs to be in the vicinity so the engine imobilizer is deactivated. When I took mine into Toyota they were talking hundreds of dollars to have the thing replaced so I took it to a Locksmith instead who repaired it for $30. He had already seen a dozen others from late model Cruisers & said it was becoming very common for vehicles around 5 years old. Having a bunch of keys & remotes swinging off the ignition key is the quickest way to wear them out but mine only has a single tag so there is certainly yet another issue with the Cruiser.
Cheers Craig.........
HZJ105 Vic

My Lexus LX470 had the steering lock in the Davenport Range NP on 4/6/07 in NT & Lexus advised there was no easy answer. Luckily they also advised what to do & that it was not easy. We got going 5 hours later with the help of tools & input from 3 strangers.
Locksmiths advise there are 2 types of problem.
1. Most common is wear on the key so that the lock does not recognise it. Very common in Holdens & now I have heard of many cases in Cruisers from 80 series on. This can be fixed by locksmiths.
2. My case, & probably yours, the shaft from the key switch to the steering lock & to the actual ignition switch breaks. This leaves the steering locked. The shaft is not sold as a separate piece so the whole assembly has to be replaced. Cost of the assembly for Lexus $243, Cruiser probably cheaper but is different I am told.
The shaft is alloy & mine broke with no warning. I am told by locksmiths that it rarely breaks. Lexus have known of 2 other cases.
The assembly is clamped to the steering column by 2 shear bolts which must be drilled out to remove it & free the steering, then the ignition switch can be removed from the back of the assembly & operated with a screwdriver. The key part of the switch only satisfies the security & turns the shaft which operates everything else.
Happy traveling