Rebuilding the horn

[91Bear]

My truck has a button on the side of the steering column that was installed before I owned it, to make it able to pass inspection. I'm not sure what is wrong with it. Has anyone rebuilt a horn? Is it difficult? Are any parts suppliers more reputable than others?

[willowbilly3]

Well you would think it's simple but finding ALL the parts can be a chore. I had 4 columns apart and still had to make one horn contact from a brass screw and a ball point pen spring. The early style wheel uses 2 horn contact buttons, one above the wheel and one below. I was having some erratic horn blowing with several different horn buttons/rings. I was really scratching my head until some charitable soul sent me a nice horn ring and now it works perfect. I had 2 or 3 horn button/rings apart and couldn't see any visual problems but they still didn't work reliably.

[crozetiga]

I was having some trouble with my horn as well. I would test the horns themselves and make sure they will work. Beleive it or not, both of my horns were bad. To test, just run a piece of wire from the positive side of the battery to the horn, then run a piece of wire from the horn to a ground and it should work. If it doesnt then the horn itself is bad. You can get a replacement that looks really similar at a parts store for 10-15 bucks.... Hope that helps

[rjewkes]

Oh, BTW Any body else have a hard time keeping the little bugger in place while reinstalling the wheel?

[dcbullet]

Would anyone be willing to take a picture with their horn ring off? My truck came without anything so I need to rebuild everything between the wheel to the ring, and a picture would help.

[FORDification]

Here's a shot of a '68 column in my shop. Number 1 shows the plastic horn button retainer tab, one of three that holds it to the wheel. These plastic retainer tab are often broken, and so the horn button/ring gets removed. There should be a large spring (about 1-1/4" diameter) between the horn button and the metal retainer on the steering wheel, to hold the button up.

Number 2 shows the hole where the horn contact is supposed to be...but it's missing in this photo. It's really nothing more than a small spring with a metal contact on one end.

[dcbullet]

Interesting. So all I'm missing is the large spring that goes around the steering wheel bolt/nut and the "contact brush (which is also a spring with a metal tip I think)"

Just these 2 parts? There are no wires in there? I know the horn works because I can ground the wire that comes out of the column at its connector and the horn will sound.

Thanks!

[FORDification]

The wires come up to the bottom of the hole where the brush sets...but other than that, what you see is all you need.

Here's a pic of what the spring looks like:



I can't find a pic of the contact, but if you need one, I can get one for you this weekend when I'm at the shop.

[dcbullet]

I can't find a pic of the contact, but if you need one, I can get one for you this weekend when I'm at the shop.

I've seen one in a catalog so I know what I need to get. I'll just order one from there because I've looked in the junkyards and all the steering wheels have no horns! Thus the need for my question since I couldn't figure out what parts I needed. Thanks Kieth!

[1970F100]

There's another thread about this (more recent - after the server crash )- what about the back of the steering wheel - my horn still refuses to work - I have a good horn, realy, new contact switch in the steering wheel, polished the contact plate to get rid of the rust/pitting - but still nothing. I'd hate to pull the wheel, but I want my nice horn ring to work.

[68F250]

That's something I've been wanting to check out, where does the ground come from to complete the horn circuit? The rag joint acts as an insulator so not thru the steering box. Does it have to go thru the bearings in the steering wheel?

[1970F100]

now that I think about it - after I cleaned the horn pad and put in a new switch, it would go off occasionally - I unplugged the horn at the gas station - so I bet I have a short somewhere between the firewall and the horn pad.

[fordman]

i think i read on here some place that there is suppose to be a strap that crosses over the rag joint somehow. i don't ever remember seeing one. matbe its part of the rag joint that hooks through the bolts of the joint.

[Jake11]

Get a ohm meter. test continuity. Learn how to use it!!
The little ring under the hub on the wheel tarnishes. Thats the ground
for the relay. Clean/tighten all the contacts to ground.

Most of the time, it's a 'ground' that causes the problem.

[rjewkes]

i know the wheel i took from a 77 f250 with cruise and similair hornpad to the 71-72 style had a wire bridging one side of the wheel to the other side of the rag joint.

don't remember haviong one on the 72 ranger i used to have but the horn worked.