what tool do I use to put the steering plate back on? I had a tool but it did not work because the tele slides out and no way to keep the shaft in. I tried to put a screw it the shaft hole and screw the tool on to the shaft hoping it will tighten the shaft it did but not strong enough to hold while trying to push the plate down. is there a special tool for the telescope steering?

It's a pain. You do have to lock down the center of the tele part. You have to find a bolt with the correct threads, and then cut the head of the bolt off. Tighten the bolt down on the lock for the tele, and then put the lock plate tool on.
There are a couple of threads about this...there might be a pic in one of them, but I'm not sure...

This is the type of tool that works good

you need one 5/16 x 1 socket head cap screw "or allen head" put that where the star screw goes that will hold the tele down. then thread the puller on and compress the plate. thats what i do.