After looking at the diagram of Horn Contact parts - blowing ring type, I picked up a kit to replace the steering column mast jacket bearing with horn contact and another kit with Horn Button Spring, Cup, Screws and Insulators for Cars With Horn Ring. My car has a nice original horn ring with a cup made of wood clamped in the center, which appears to be close to the original plastic cup. The issue is I can't figure out how these parts make up a working contact. Each kit has a spring, one just the right size to fit over the steering shaft and seat up against the bearing, the other spring about the size of the mast jacket tube. The metal cup that came with a kit is 2.25" dia which I believe should seat up against the plastic cup in the horn ring and the larger spring - does this spring also seat up under the steering wheel ? The diagram in Master parts and accessories catalog shows only 1 spring. I don't see what the smaller spring could do. To confuse matters further, both cups are identified 2.819 cup in the diagram. What am I missing ?
It has been many years since I put mine together so not going to be much help. the 2.819 is a group number in the parts book and not the cup number. The two cups are different with different parts numbers. Only one spring. That spring fits over a lip on the top cup just like in the diagram. Both cups are metal, pretty sure. No spring up against the bearing. Have no idea about the wood part. The diagram is just like it is.
I found a photo on e-bay of the same type steering wheel and horn ring from the back side with the cup clearly visible. The smaller cup fits inside the larger cup (has rust so must be metal) which is clamped in the horn ring. So my wooden cup is not going to work. The spring must be between the steering wheel and the smaller cup. The smaller cup is the movable contact which touches the mast jacket bearing/contact to sound the horn. I still don't see the ground path to complete the circuit. The horn ring is completely insulated from ground by rubber mounting and non-conductive steering wheel material. The steering wheel metal hub should be a good ground, but neither spring or cup contacts the hub. Kevin
#1 is where the contact is made with the mast bearing with attached hot wire. When you press the horn ring. #2 is where the large cup is threaded into the horn ring. This is how you adjust the clearance between contact points. #3 is the lock screw so large cup stays in place.
I agree that sounds correct. Still trying to figure out grounding path for the horn ring. This column bearing / horn contact replacement kit is actually meant for 1955-57 Chev which explains why it came with small spring. The wire was too short so I had to replace it with a longer wire before installing in the column. Kevin
