The Ford Barn

dwaynec · 04-06-2014, 11:22 AM

It appears that when the prior owner assembled my car he was either in a hurry, or something went wrong while he was doing so. The "V" on the horn button is pointing to the left instead of down and when the steering wheel is locked the spoke that usually points down on these cars is pointing up. When the steering wheel is unlocked and the spoke is pointing down the car will move in a straight line. When the wheel is locked the wheels are slightly turned from straight ahead.

I have never worked on these systems before so I am not sure what I have to do to get things setup properly. How difficult is it to pull the horn rod and what are the procedures for doing so? Is it better to just leave the steering wheel the way it is, or should I try and rotate it? Again, if it is better to rotate the wheel, how do I go about it.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

NealinCA · 04-06-2014, 11:52 AM

What year vehicle? Is it all original parts, or a later steering box?

Neal

Terry,OH · 04-06-2014, 01:39 PM

When the column is locked, the wheels can be in a couple of positions 360* apart. The column doesn't lock in the straight ahead position, the wheel may have to be turned slightly after turning the ignition key to the lock position. While you are driving straight ahead or have the wheels pointed straight ahead the "V" should be correct. The horn rod has four sides and the spider can be installed two ways. Suggest you remove the light switch and the spider turn the spider 90* and reinstall with the "V" in the proper direction. The knobs for turning the headlight switch should be at the top and bottom with the lights "off"

dwaynec · 04-06-2014, 01:40 PM

It's a '37. It looks like all of the parts are original, but I am not really sure. This is my first old Ford. I really need to get a good picture of the car that I can use as an avatar.

dwaynec · 04-06-2014, 01:43 PM

Thanks, Terry. I will give it a shot. The headlights are the next thing on my list to get working. Right now I can see that the lights are disconnected where the wiring goes into the fenders. I just have to test the switch.

sortkaffekop · 04-06-2014, 01:50 PM

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Could be that the front wheel traction has been adjusted, without remembering to lock the steering wheel in the correct neutral position. Then everything is out of centre.

Raise front of car, put steering wheel in neutral straight ahead position. Now lock it.
Then adjust tracking.

Could be.
Chr.

dwaynec · 04-06-2014, 02:34 PM

Ok, I will check.

Lawson Cox · 04-06-2014, 03:35 PM

Jack up the front of the car. Loosen the sleeve on both ends of the adjusting link on the drag link. Turn the drag link (itself) and it should adjust the steering wheel and position the V on the horn button. Easy job.

40cpe · 04-06-2014, 05:50 PM

Do the easy things first: Remove the light switch, make sure the fork that moves the light switch is at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position while the V8 emblem is straight up on the horn button. The fork should be in that position to install the switch.

dwaynec · 04-07-2014, 04:42 AM

OK. It looks like the next day that the weather will cooperate is going to be Wed. so I probably won't work on the car until then. I will keep you posted.

04-06-2014, 11:22 AM	#1
dwaynec Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 169	Rotating the horn button and steering wheel It appears that when the prior owner assembled my car he was either in a hurry, or something went wrong while he was doing so. The "V" on the horn button is pointing to the left instead of down and when the steering wheel is locked the spoke that usually points down on these cars is pointing up. When the steering wheel is unlocked and the spoke is pointing down the car will move in a straight line. When the wheel is locked the wheels are slightly turned from straight ahead. I have never worked on these systems before so I am not sure what I have to do to get things setup properly. How difficult is it to pull the horn rod and what are the procedures for doing so? Is it better to just leave the steering wheel the way it is, or should I try and rotate it? Again, if it is better to rotate the wheel, how do I go about it. Any help is greatly appreciated.

04-06-2014, 11:52 AM	#2
NealinCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Coast, Calif. Posts: 839	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel What year vehicle? Is it all original parts, or a later steering box? Neal

04-06-2014, 01:39 PM	#3
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel When the column is locked, the wheels can be in a couple of positions 360* apart. The column doesn't lock in the straight ahead position, the wheel may have to be turned slightly after turning the ignition key to the lock position. While you are driving straight ahead or have the wheels pointed straight ahead the "V" should be correct. The horn rod has four sides and the spider can be installed two ways. Suggest you remove the light switch and the spider turn the spider 90* and reinstall with the "V" in the proper direction. The knobs for turning the headlight switch should be at the top and bottom with the lights "off"

04-06-2014, 01:40 PM	#4
dwaynec Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 169	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel It's a '37. It looks like all of the parts are original, but I am not really sure. This is my first old Ford. I really need to get a good picture of the car that I can use as an avatar.

04-06-2014, 01:43 PM	#5
dwaynec Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 169	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel Thanks, Terry. I will give it a shot. The headlights are the next thing on my list to get working. Right now I can see that the lights are disconnected where the wiring goes into the fenders. I just have to test the switch.

04-06-2014, 01:50 PM	#6
sortkaffekop Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Kolding, Denmark Posts: 129	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Could be that the front wheel traction has been adjusted, without remembering to lock the steering wheel in the correct neutral position. Then everything is out of centre. Raise front of car, put steering wheel in neutral straight ahead position. Now lock it. Then adjust tracking. Could be. Chr.

04-06-2014, 02:34 PM	#7
dwaynec Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 169	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel Ok, I will check.

04-06-2014, 03:35 PM	#8
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel Jack up the front of the car. Loosen the sleeve on both ends of the adjusting link on the drag link. Turn the drag link (itself) and it should adjust the steering wheel and position the V on the horn button. Easy job. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

04-06-2014, 05:50 PM	#9
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel Do the easy things first: Remove the light switch, make sure the fork that moves the light switch is at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position while the V8 emblem is straight up on the horn button. The fork should be in that position to install the switch.

04-07-2014, 04:42 AM	#10
dwaynec Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 169	Re: Rotating the horn button and steering wheel OK. It looks like the next day that the weather will cooperate is going to be Wed. so I probably won't work on the car until then. I will keep you posted.