Trying to get the horn working on my brothers 49 F1. I replaced the horn wire and spring. Now I can not get the horn button to set back in place. It was on the column previously but had no "give" to it. I am lost as to why it will not set back on the wheel except that the spring is tighter, not as flat as the one I took off.. Is it possible that it is not the correct button?

 

I had the same problem when replacing my horn , button wouldn't seat right.....ended up grinding down the horn button tabs to get it to work.

 

A picture or two of your setup would be helpful.

 

Look inside the horn button .May have some flash from the molding process in the center preventing any play . Ask me how I found this out !

 

Thanks for the input. As I have thought about this I am wondering if I had the horn wire retainer on upside down. That would explain holding the button up too far. It will be a few days before I can get back over there. I will post a follow up.

 

It should look like this

 

Thanks, that is exactly how it looks. Your picture also shows that my thought about the retainer plate is wrong. It cant be upside down. I have ordered him a new button and then I will try again.

 

I have mine exactly like that picture. But when you twist the button in it isn't real even sitting in.the wheel. Kind of pops out and beeps every now and then when you turn the steering wheel.

 

Some of the repro wire springs, the ones inside the cup that stick out to engage the grooves in the button, don't stick out the proper amount, or evenly. I had to jiggle the button to get all of the spring "bumps" into their grooves in the button.

 

l had this problem with all new horn button parts. Take the assembly off the sreering wheel including button index plate, assemble all peices together on bench, you can place horn button over and twist and see the spring clip if it engages horn button. I had to bend spring slightly to engage horn button, it must lock to button index plate.

 

Ever have one of those" why didn't I think of that" moments? That is what I am going to do this weekend and get that assembled correct once and forall. Thank you!

 

I would love to see a completely original horn button assemble. The only way I can get the repro [second one] cap seated is to put the little isolator below the plate it sets in then there is no play for the button to push the spring. Obviously the horn will always be grounded that way. If I ground the button areas that the metal clip goes in enough there will be nothing left. At a loss. Sure more fun to deal with the late model column in my 53.

 

... C = F1

 

Here are the pics I took last time I was in there. The black plastic piece (isolator) is NOT stock, it's a piece I made while waiting for a replacement (it worked fine).

It sounds like there are some bad repro buttons out there?

 

I just used a few small pieces of electrical tape to isolate it. just to kind of prevent unwanted beeps. My repro horn button had a big booger on the bottom in the middle that had to be ground down. furthermore I felt the contact plate fit too tight inside the button, it was preventing the spring action. so I took a dremel and ground half a freckle around the inside way up towards to top. I also smoothed it out where the springs slip into the groove. just a hair.. That wire spring has to be sticking out pretty even on all 3 places about the same for it to slip in. Once I got it in I knew where it had to be. But I was surprised that it didn't have much spring action up and down.


Hope this helps.