VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Horn button replacement

Hi all, what is the best way to replace the mast jacket bushing.
I have a new mast bushing, contact wire and button.
Is it as simple as removing the steering tube. knocking out the bushing (measuring first to get depth from top of tube for replacement bushing.
On the side of the tube at about the position of the mast bushing there is a small lug/hole is this to position the bushing or for oiling?

That's about all there is to it. However a couple of suggestions:
1.Use a long pole(broom stick) to tap out the old button
2. Test fit the bushing on the steering column. I found after I had mine installed that the fit was much too tight, making steering stiff. Chipper or someone suggested reaming out the bushing to match the steering column (perhaps a thousandth of an inch or so tolerance). If it can be pushed on it should be OK
Also check to confirm bush will slide into jacket without too much effort.
3.Press it into jacket as you described, extending wire down and out the hole in bottom of jacket. Use a large socket to carefully drive bushing it home.
4.Then reinstall jacket and bush onto steering column, again using care and depending on how tight the fit, a hardwood block tapping on end of jacket,or again a socket against the bush(outer rubber part of bush, not against the contact area
5.Finally the wires on the button are supplied a bit longer than required and may need to be shortened. After steering wheel is in place with trim rim, only way to figure this out is install button until rubber is fully seated in steel trim and see if wires contact bush. If they do, remove and trim off some wire and repeat until you have perhaps 1/16" clearance. Also slightly angle the wires in opposite directions as described in instructions.

Just one caution when using the above installation instructions. The bushing must have enough "crush" on the rubber so it doesn't rotate in the jacket. The two depressions on opposite sides are so the rubber can compress and grab the inside surface of the jacket.

There is also a long tube that should be installed around the mast jacket bushing wire where it comes out of the hole that is located on the side of the mast jacket near the bottom of the mast jacket. The tube protects the wire in that area so that the wire doesn't rub through where it comes out of the hole in the mast jacket.

Can you post a picture of this tube?

No. I don't have a digital camera.

I just wrapped the area of the wire in question with several bands of good quality rubber electrical tape. However if one has a more durable/flexible wireloom type tube that may work for you as well.

A piece of rubber vacuum hose would work well also.