The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay '40 Horn button Question

Hi - I have a horn button that is, I assume, missing some parts. I put in a working 40 horn that works and tested the wire out the bottom of the collumn and the bearing inside the cab but need to know what should be in my steering wheel(?)

I've thoroughly checked out Kip Bonds "Kip's41" tech tip but it seems like quite different button configuration.

Any instruction or reference images (!) are much appreciated - My picture is here. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cgeFkCwslM_WqVat84N8gw?feat=directlink

Thanks, Doug

The way that works is the "S" wire goes through those two holes. When you push the horn button the tip of the "S" wire makes contact with the copper strip at the top of the mast jacket bushing (may be a bearing on a '40). At the same time the edge of the "S" wire contacts the side of the hole(s) completing the circuit and making the horn honk.

I don't see any missing parts (assuming your mast jacket bushing is in place). I say that understanding that my '38s construction is a bit different from your '40 in that the "S" wire on mine goes through the steering wheel itself. I'm not sure how the chrome piece you show connects to the mast jacket/steering wheel.

My 38 Master is like that. It relies on the metal fork being nestled in the rubber and the rubber being resliant. Wow, this is simplicity at its best!

Thanks Tiny and Truckernix,

That makes sense and appears to be what is happening with my mast bearing and "s" wire fork. The fork wires go down through holes in the metal cup but may not be contacting it due to the concentric holes in the steering wheel that are just below and a little smaller (I'll have to look more closely). The other problem is that in a resting state, the fork wires seems to be bottomed-out on the copper strip... I was expecting there to be a spring or something. Maybe I'll look for an appropriate spring to give me a little clearance. Thanks - Doug

Yep, the downside is the "S" wire has to be in just the "right" place or it doesn't make contact to close the circuit. The last time I had mine off I got lucky when I reinstalled it and my horn works like a champ now. Before I had to push in one special spot to get it to honk.

Before I had to push in one special spot to get it to honk.
I've got one of those on my '45.:(

Tiny,
how do you find a special spot on something that is round?

The S wire has to be bent certain way as it goes thru the horn button cup. I can email to anyone a picture that was in a Chevrolet service bulletin . It worked like a champ on my 36 GMC.

dunfire,
I would appreciate it if you could Email me a copy.

thanks,
Fred

Kind of like being put in a round room and having to pee in the corner??? What I meant was that it would only honk when I pressed on one certain area of the horn button. One thing that might have helped me was putting a small spring & clip device on the "S" wire that keeps it in better contact with the steering shaft, improving the odds of completing the circuit when pressing the horn button. It works great now.

dunfire,
thanks for the diagram. Are they supposed to be bent to the shape where they are closer together?

Fred

It is a bit confusing, the first bend is the distance between arms then the next bend is the offset of the arms.