Got the horn button off, by unscrewing it. Also the lower cap piece, by bending the tabs that hold it in. There is a wire that comes out of the column at the lower end. Where is the wire at the upper end of the column? We haven't pulled the steering wheel yet.
1946 Chevy 3100 1/2 Ton Pickup Purchased 11/18/17 Sold 9/20 1948 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe, Purchased 6/20/2010 1965 Chevy ll 350 Purchased Feb 2021. 3-speed Saginaw Hurst Floor Shifter 3.08 Rear End
The simple way is to leave the horn button etc, as shown in the drawing you attached, alone and bypass it with a button mounted on the side of the jacket. Another way to repair the existing bearing is a to remove the bearing and repair the soldered connection. Given the chance that wire is original with brittle cloth wrap it’s probably better to replace the wire with new, IMO. Fish a stiff wire from the bottom access port, just above where the jacket mounts onto the steering box up the inside of the jacket. Secure the new mast bearing wire end onto the fishing wire and carefully pull the new wire down and out the bottom port. The bearing can then be pushed into the jacket. Jim Carter’s sells replacement bearings.
I might get lucky, it seems I have everything in place except the top button. Looks like I will need to get the horn button assembly with the bottom piece though. I've attached a pic of what I have...(excuse the poor quality, it was taken from a screen cap from a low res video).
Alan
EDIT: I ordered a horn button assembly from The Filling Station, along with the shop manual on CD.
