Horn relay 68 f100

[The_Eman]

DC shows that for a 68 f100 a 2 hole mount relay but my truck has a one hole mount version. I'm guessing there is no difference btwn the two electrically. Mine says autolite on it so I'm guessing it is original.

How do I test the horn? I don't have the brush contact assembly on the wheel.

thx,
eric

[The_Eman]

I figured it out. I need a new brush contact assembly. Here is the procedure I used that I found elsewhere on the web. Very good right up.

Run a jumper from the battery positive to the horn power connection. If you aren't deafened the horn is dead or the ground is bad. Clean the ground, which is the horn mounting bolt and try again. No beep=dead horn.
If it does beep then find the horn relay, passenger side under hood on or above inner fender. It will have 2 yellow wires and one blue/yellow striped wire running to it.
Remove the connector and jump the 2 yellow wires together, if the horn blows it isn't a fuse or the power wire circuit. If it doesn't blow check the fuse or if the truck is so equipped there could be a fusible link instead on the starter relay, large terminal where battery positive connects.
Reinstall connector and ground the blue/yellow striped wire if the horn works now the problem is in the ground circuit from the horn button.
Remove horn button ground out horn contact stud. If horn blows the contact isnt touching the horn button contact brass ring or the horn switch is dead or there is an accumulation of dirt.
If horn doesn't work check the rag joint grounding wire.
This should get you started

[l1k2gadd]

I believe there is also supposed to be a connection across the rag joint to extend the ground from the body and steering gearbox to the center shaft of the column. When I rebuilt my rag joint the little strip of metal broke that looked like it crossed from one bolt on the steering gearbox end of the rag joint to the column shaft end of the rag joint.

[basketcase0302]

If you aren't deafened the horn is dead or the ground is bad.

LMAO!

I never noticed the ground strap at the rag joint either.
Maybe that's why my horn don't work?

Basketcase

[l1k2gadd]

When the rag joint in my '68 almost completely frayed in two I stopped at CarQuest and bought one of each of their two universal rag joint replacement kits because I didn't know which rubber rag joint I needed. As I was seperating all of the parts this thin piece of steel broke and before I cast it aside I remembered my brother's father-in-law having trouble with his horn and cruise in his '75 or '76 Dentside many years ago. It wound up being NO ground on the upper column shaft.

I haven't fixed mine yet because the '72 column I repaired my 3-on-the-tree with has a longer center shaft than the 68-70 or 71 shaft due to the steering wheel being deeper in it's construction in 1972. The early steering wheel horn ring I just tried to install on the early steering wheel I just bought won't go over the 1972 column shaft due to it's longer length. I have the proper length '70 column shaft and will put it in some day, and reinstall a connection across the rag joint at that time. Until then my Simson Strong-Tie horn jury-rig will due just fine.

[willowbilly3]

Why go to all the trouble of changing shafts? Just pull the wheel and saw off the needed amount. Been there, done that.
Does anyone sell the comtact button and spring? When I did my ps I had to go through 4 steering columns for enough good/correct parts and still ended up making one contact from a piece of brass welding rod and a ball point pen spring.

[The_Eman]

Anyone have a pic of a rag joint. I've never seen one and I'm not sure where it is.

thx,
Eric

[Thunderfoot]

Hey Eman,
It goes between the steering shaft and the steering box.
It looks kinda like this.

[fordman]

yes you can still buy the horn spring contacts. i think all the vendors carry them.