The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay horn wire to steering wheel

I have a '46 Chevy that I'm replacing the wiring harness on. The only real trouble I'm having is figuring out how to run the horn wire up the steering column. I pulled the wheel and was expecting to see a part with the wire attached, Instead there is what looks like a bearing set an inch or so down into the mast tube. How does that come apart? I would rather ask than break something.

the wire attaches to that bearing, looks like so, if it still has the horn wire attached, the wire should be down the column and out a hole in the side of the mast jacket, the harness wire attaches to it there - if the wire has been broken off inside the column, the bearing can be removed by prying under the flange that laps the mast jacket, and if the bearing seems OK you might be able to splice wire on to the remaining piece

Bill

Thanks, Bill.
I can visualize that. Now, just how does that come out? Do I pry out what looks like a spring clip on top of the bearing? Then how does the bearing come out? I know the end of the wire is still at the bottom of the column, I hope it is still intact enough to pull the new one in.
Ed

the bearing has a lip that sits flush on top of the mast jacket, you should be able to carefully weasel under it and gently tap it up working around the mast .... that's if you're going to put in a new bearing, in which case you need to tie a string to the wire and when you remove the bearing pull the string up so that when you put in a new bearing you can use the string to pull the new wire down the column, the wire is part of the bearing, not part of the harness .... but if the wire is still sticking out the column down below, you may not need to do anything there, use an ohm meter to check for continuity from the end of the wire to the bearing and if it checks and doesn't look like the insulation is badly deteriorated, just use it

Bill

Sounds like yours might have come apart if it's that far down the column. Mine came apart and I ended up using two pairs of locking forceps to pull it up and out. The top piece with the lip can still be pried out with a screw driver.

http://rustyfiftyone.com/mastbearingectomy/

I used a piece of string to guide the new wire down the column.

You'll be lucky to remove the old bearing without ruining it, says the voice of limited but in this case particular experience.
Karl

Well, I started to replace the bearing and it's not going well. Question: Can I drive the old bearing down the mast jacket past the hole the wire passes through and put the new one in at the top? That thing won't come out, heck, it won't even wiggle.

I finally got it out. It wasn't pretty, but I did it.

So, I was reading the horn/mast bearing posts in preparation for taking mine apart. Since I had my steering mast out and on the bench, I thought I should be able to gingerly, sweetly remove the bearing in one piece. Nope... 2 hours and four pieces later I recommend you order the replacement before you even start.

I realize that the majority of the people that see this won't
have the tools to do this, nor the desire to go this route,
but a few may find it of interest. I post it only to show
another way of removing the bearing.
Here's how I removed several mast jacket bearings:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/121666271/large
The large tapered section was threaded on a bench lathe with a
taper attachment. The push rod is used to push on the steering
shaft after the tapered thread is screwed into the bearing cup.
This was modeled after the J-2565 bearing puller that GM shows
in the service manual. This method does not destroy the original
bearing assembly and it doesn't bugger up the top of the mast
jacket, which is the usual result of prying it out with a screwdriver.

DG

Hey Denny, you big show off! That is a cool tool! I get a kick out off making redneck tools to sort of replicate those specialty tools found in the manuals, but I don't come anywhere near your level. Thanks for the encouragement to continue to endeavor to persevere.
Carl

A lot of the 'special tools' listed in the back of each section
of the service manual are simply not needed to service these
vehicles. However some do come in handy. When I was rebuilding
my SM420 I replicated several of the 'special tools' only to
find that it came apart quite easily without using any 'special
tools' at all.
I haven't yet got my machine tools wired up an running due to
the big move and I really miss them. When I was working on the
trucks I was on the lathe or mill several times a week making
tooling or reworking China so it would fit.
Not for everyone, but for anyone who is serious about restoration
and doing the work themselves, I'd highly recommend investing in
a small bench lathe and a bench top mill.

Denny G

Hello,
I too have the same issue.. I have a wire sticking out the end of the steering mast, but the wire jacket seems pretty far gone.. I am wondering if I do splice a wire on it, and if there might be some sort of electrical sleeve that could slide over the frayed wire .. Not sure what the wire looks like in side the mast, but hoping it is just at the point where the wire just comes out of the mast. Rather hope to avoid dealing with trying to get the bearing out to replace this one silly wire..

Any tips you might have?

-James

How about slipping some heat shrink tubing over the wire?

Yes, I was thinking about that too.. I guess it is worth a shot..

When I pulled my bearing mast out the wire jacket was toast

Im glad I repaired it

That would be my guess as well. But, think I’d try a simple repair first and if no joy go the route DADS50 suggested.

That should be a terminal connection unless you plan on never pulling the mast.

Don