1990 F150 Key lock won’t engage starter

Hello,

Have a 1990 F150 300 I6, I was driving it all day and it has a starting issue, it’s with the positive cable but loosening and wiggling it fixes the issue.

I did this but as I try to start it again, my ignition lock cylinder felt unusual. It would go back slightly further than usual and would only turn far enough to turn on the battery but not engage the starter. I put a new ignition lock in but that didn’t fix anything. Truck is manual to I can’t bridge it as is.

I only thing I could think it’s the ignition actuator arm may have broke in the steering column. Would my prediction be correct before I start tearing it apart? Could it be something else? Thanks