Steering column collar problem....HELP!

I just separated the inner and outer shafts on my column. I replaced the short PS lower shaft with the longer manual piece. They don't separate easily. If they do collapse, they can be pulled apart again.

There aren't really plastic "pins" holding them together. The upper(inner) shaft has notches in it. Plastic was injected into...and filled those notches. What look like "pins" are just the left over plastic sticking out from where the injection was done. They aren't really doing anything.

That puller looks like a nice tool to have though.