VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1925 horn wire problem

I'm restoring a '25 Chevy pickup and I'm having a problem hooking up the horn wire that goes through the steering column. I attached the wire to the screw on the underside of the steering column but there is no continuity between the wire and ground when the horn button is depressed. Did I miss something? The horn works and the red wire is hooked up correctly. When I jump the black horn wire to ground the horn works. Any ideas?

Assuming the truck is the same as the car-----Start a horn wire into the hole near the top of the column and under the wheel, run this wire down the inside of the column and exit near the bottom. The wire that exits the column goes to the remaining screw on the horn. Now, go back to the top of the column where you entered the wire and measure up to the screw under the top of the column. Connect this wire there. When the horn button is activated it grounds the horn and provides the energy to operate the horn. The horn has a "HOT" wire connected all the time.

Ray, I have the wire hooked up like you explained and still nothing. I don't know how the horn button is supposed to make or break the contact. I know the button hits the steering wheel nut but how does that make contact with the wire that runs up the steering column??

Save me from looking it up, if you ground the wire on the steering column, does the horn blow? If yes, then the problem is the horn button. If not, the problem is from the wire you are holding in your hand to the positive side of the horn.

Answer that question and then I will list the next steps.

Have you got the "U" shaped earthing wire that sits under the aluminium horn button and is retained by a small steel plate that has 2 grooves and the small return spring spigot that act as guides for the "U" shaped wire?When you press the horn button down,this "U" shaped wire(which passes through 2 holes in the centre of the steering wheel spider provide the earth return for the horn,as they make contact with the insulated brass ring inside the steering column mast jacket,and the power then flows through the horn to earth via the "U" shaped wire.

Yes, Ray the horn blows when I connect a jumper wire from the wire to the steering column.

CJP, I have the U shaped wire going through the horn button. I noticed the brass ring that the U shaped wire is supposed to touch. I was wondering if the terminal screw is supposed to touch this ring or not. I don't think the U shaped wire is touching this ring but I'll double check and get back to you...I rechecked. The U shaped wire is not touching the ring. I also checked for voltage and I got 6v at ring and ground. I don't know why it's too short but I believe that's the problem. Thanks all for your help.

If the "U" shaped wire doesn't touch the insulated brass contact ring inside the mast jacket,you won't get the earth return circuit made and the horn won't work.I had the same problem and made a new moving contact "U" shaped wire out of brass and once trimmed to the right length,no more problems.

That is good advice from CJP'S 29.

I think you are on the track now.

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the help.