Trouble with steering column, might remove

[chunstone]

I was working on my wagon steering wheel and removed the snap ring on the column thiking that might be necessary to get the turn signal off. Wrong! The steering shaft slipped into the tube and I can not figure how to pull it back up. I did wack it with a large socket but that might not have been the best thing to do either.

I might take out the one in the parts car, but if I could fix this one It might be less work.

The Haynes book says to tie the lower shaft with strong wire to prevent it from rotating.
The 1973 Datsun service manual says to hold the lower shaft by a wire rope to keep the shaft from slipping off.

I searched and apparently Hang510 had a problem with his shaft, I mean steering shaft!

More tips or suggestions?
Thanks, Neil