I'm working on getting the horn on my truck to work. I narrowed the problem to the column and pulled the steering wheel. I'm not sure on the exact terminology here so hopefully I can explain this. It looks like there is supposed to be a spring loaded "brush" that pushes against a ring on back of the steering wheel to connect the stationary column with the spinning wheel. It looks like it would be similar to a brush in an electric motor. Well my "brush" is missing. I'm guessing I probably can't buy just this piece, so what do I need to get this part or am I able to buy it seperately?

 

Try Jeff''s Bronco Graveyard or LMC Truck - both on line.

Good luck

 

The only thing I am finding there is buy the whole turn signal switch. I know I've seen something that I think would work but I can't remember where. Like a round brunsh with a spring made onto the end. I'll probably just try to make something before I buy a turn signal switch.

 

Ask Numberdummy. He was just talking about that the other day.

 

I just checked the Ford parts book, the brush only comes with the complete turn signal switch, its not sold separatley.

 

Hopefully numberdummy will chime in or I will search his posts.
And I figured Ford only offered this part with the whole switch but was hoping the aftermarket would offer it. I actually found just the brush for up to 1972 trucks from Obsolete parts out of Oklahoma City. Judging from the pic it looks like I could use it but I wonder why it doesn't fit up to 1977 though. It's only $6 but then I should find other stuff to order so I don't waste shipping. I wonder if theres anything in the help section or if I can find something at a place that deals with electric motors.

 

Is there supposed to be a rather heavy coil spring between the column and the wheel? Because I do not have this? Do I need it?

 

Here is the exploded parts diagram from the Ford parts manual. I don't see any spring.
Click on the .pdf link to view

 

Thanks for the diagram. Nope, I don't see a large spring either. I read on another post that there was supposed to be a large spring between the wheel and column. I don't have that spring and I don't seen it in the diagram so I guess I wont worry about that.

 

Blown 331, Out of curiosity I checked a little further and there is a heavy spring (basic p/n 3520) located under the steering wheel '73-'77 but it's on 2WD columns only.

 

Thats interesting. I wouldn't have thought 2wd vs 4wd would have made a difference on something like that. I wonder why one truck needs it while another does not.

And Dennis Carpenter has the horn brush on ebay but again it says it fits up to 1972 trucks. Kinda steep on the shipping so if I try it I'll probably come up with a few more things to order.
FORD PICKUP HORN RING CONTACT BRUSH ASSEMBLY: eBay Motors (item 110560960613 end time Aug-16-10 06:40:04 PDT)

I do have a 2wd 77 F-150 at my dads that I guess is becoming a parts truck. Maybe I'll pull the wheel on that one and check out the brush on that one. The horn never did work so that one could be messed up as well.
And on a side note I have a steering wheel from an 86 Lariat, its pretty much the same wheel as a 78/79 truck except its leather wrapped. I was going to try to put it on my 77 column. I know I have to grind the flat spot of the splines out of the wheel but a bunch of people on here say it wont cancel the turn signals and I even read there will be a gap between the column and wheel. From what I've seen so far I believe neither to be true. It looks like it will go right on and work on without a problem to me. The turn signals do cancel differently but the metal peice on the 77 wheel that actuates the cancelling cam just slips onto the hub of the 77 wheel. I can simply move that over to the newer wheel, the hubs are the same diameter. And as far as a gap between the column and wheel, I don't think that will happen either. The face of the hub and the steering wheel plastic are basically flush with each other on both wheels.

 

I may try this.
Shop Dremel Carbon Motor Brushes at Lowes.com

Edit. Just walked to Lowes durning my lunch break and bought them. And they come in packs of 2 so I got 2 for $3.97. I think I can make it work, I'll report back.

 

Do you have a horn ring or horn button on your truck? No, you do not. No F100/350 does after 1970.

This brush will not work. It fits into a plastic insulator that is hand pressed into the outside of the steering wheel, below the horn button or ring.

C2OZ13A821A .. Horn Brush & Insulator Kit / Use with Horn Ring or Horn Button.

If this part is genuine Ford as Carpenter claims, it includes the plastic insulator, which was only available with this kit...not sold by itself.

Carpenter also claims it takes two. That's BS, it only takes one. His applications are also wrong, the following is correct:

Fits: 1961/66 F100/250 2WD / 1966 F100 4WD / 1967/70 F100/350 / 1962/64 Fairlane / 1963 Falcon Sprint only / 1963/64 Galaxie / 1964 Falcon / 1964/66 Thunderbird / 1965 Mustang w/a generator (before 8/23/1964).

I wonder how many people bought one a these based on his applications?

They aren't happy campers if they own something not listed in my applications...which came directly from the Ford Passenger Car & Truck parts catalogs.

Edit: Thanks, Mike for posting the parts catalog pic. As they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words.

The 1973/79 Ford LIGHT Truck Parts Catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com. This is the same CD catalog Mike posted the pic from.

EVERYONE that owns one a these trucks should have the parts catalog. Then y'all will know what fits what and where, and you'll never have to ask for a parts catalog pic...ever again.

 

Ah, I gotchya. So my brush is part of the turn signal switch and on the older vehichles it is not.
And I noticed the brush for the older trucks has a wire through the middle of the spring to handle the current flow. I guess I could try adding a wire.


These brushed I bought today do not and I bet the spring itself will not handle it. Damn.


Thanks again Bill.

 

I may not be reading the thread correctly, but I wonder if someone had a recently-replaced turn signal switch....that you could just remove the piece and plug it in yours. It may not be removable, though.

I say this because I changed out mine and would have given it to you (it was functional). But I pitched it in the trash after cutting the wires.