Well in the continuing saga of the steering wheel... this morning before leaving for work I tried quickly removing the bolts.

Two of them (the long ones) can be removed... the third (short) one has something to stop you using an allen key! So I couldn't remove the wheel. But with the two longer bolts removed, I can confirm that the mechanism is fully pulled back (it clears the split ring at the front, and the ball bearings inside can be pushed in, so it's working) and yet I still can't get it any further on. As AsboJohn said, it's like there's something inside the tube which is stopping it. It is fixed in place, it turns the wheels, the "flat part" is definitely lined up, but I can't push it any further forward. The wheel itself is starting to flex...

1560 - Steven - if by any chance you're in the area over the next few days could you stop by for 5 minutes and tell me what I'm doing wrong? I'm 5 minutes from the Ring. I'm sure it must be me (I'll be very happy to find this is the case even if I'll look stupid on here)