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The inner ring of the combination wheel is the component that makes direct contact with the wheel post. This contact is crucial for the function of the combination lock, as it allows the inner ring to pivot and align the other elements of the lock mechanism appropriately when the correct combination is entered.

In many combination locks, the interaction between the inner ring and the wheel post is essential for ensuring that the lock can engage or disengage properly. When the inner ring rotates, it interacts with other components, such as the index and drop in, to align the notches or gates that correspond to the correct combination.

The drop-in typically refers to the mechanism that holds the combination wheel in place but does not contact the wheel post directly. The index relates to the markings or indicators on the wheel that denote the numbers in the combination and serves primarily for visual reference rather than mechanical interaction. The hand change often refers to the method used to change or reset the combination, but again, it does not interact with the wheel post directly in the manner specified in the question.