Classic/Antique Car Repair: Accessing the signal switch assembly on a 79 Dodge Van, dodge van, hazard lights

Question
I have a 79 Dodge Sportsman Motor home cutaway.  The hazard lights are not working, the flasher and fuse are ok. Fiddling with the switch can cause the brake lights to fail, more fiddling and the brake lights start again.  The steering column is a one piece metal tube I assumed the only way to the switch was to remove the steering wheel, then I ran up against the steering/ignition locking mechanism, the notched steel plate appears to be held in place with a spring clip.  I don't know how to remove this clip...or is it a matter of brute force? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer
Yeah brute force is good. You must depress that plate enough to remove the clip. I have made a homemade tool that I put on with the nut that works pretty good. It is just an inverted "U" that is the exact length.

Putting it back on is slightly easier, but not much.

Another secret is the red liner in the wire harness clip that comes out and let's the wires pass through the column.