Horn repair

[91Bear]

My granddad, instead of fixing it the right way, mounted a horn button on the side of the steering column when the horn stopped working. How hard do you think it would be to troubleshoot the horn problem and fix it right?

[kaptnkaos]

It shouldn't be to hard to fix 91Bear.

Does it work with the button?
If so, you'll need to pull the steering wheel...
Remove the horn ring or button, Inside, you should find a small round spring loaded brush.
This make contact with the horn button (ring)
Pull the steering wheel. Under the steering wheel you will find another spring loaded brush.
The horn works by having power come from the horn relay on the passenger side inner fender near the battery. The brushes ground out, completing the circuit.
If the horn is working with the button then you need to find where he spliced the wire for the button.
I am guessing that one or both of the brushes are missing or damaged so you may need to replace them... I'm not sure who carries them... they might be a dealer item.
That should give you enough info to trouble shoot the system. If you still have problems with it you might give Thunderfoot a shout... he's our electrical guru.

KaptnKA S

[fordman]

it is almost always the horn brush that is the problem with the horn.

[flyboy2610]

LMC Truck has them on page 98. They're $14.95 each.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fb/full.aspx?Page=98

Dennis Carpenter has them for a lot less, though.
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll ... Z50000024D

[SteveC]

EDIT Katp beat me to it nevermind this post

[fordman]

i read a post on slick 60's that said dc got a bad lot of the horn button from china.

[george worley]

I got mine at a Ford truck dealer

[kaptnkaos]

I got mine at the wreckin' yard... free... oops, how'd those get in my pocket

[Darrman]

Yeah I bought a bad brush from DC, very irratting, but later ordered another and it worked fine.

[91Bear]

I thought for sure that I had bought a new brush a few years ago and replaced it but it is certainly not in there now. I bought another one from DC, along with the plastic ring that holds the horn button on. It's just a matter of time until that breaks.
I bought a new horn button and turn signal switch too.

[fordman]

those plastic horn ring things are always breaking it seems. oh horn index is what they are calling them now.

[91Bear]

Well, shoot. It doesn't work with the brush and new button installed. I haven't pulled the steering wheel to see if there is another brush under there. I don't have a puller. I guess I need to buy one and figger out how ta use it.

[Banjo]

91bear, most chain auto parts stores have "loaner" tool programs now and likely have a puller you can get on your credit card and if you return it, there is no charge. You're going to need to get a couple bolts that fit and are long enough/correct thread. the rest is easy to figure, a little penetrating oil on the steering shaft will help too.

[cdeal28078]

Put a temporary jumper across the rag joint just about the steering box and try the horn. If it works then the metal jumper inside the rag joint has broken. I just jumpered mine using a wire. Just make sure it cannot bind on anything.
clint