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Old 10-26-2019, 08:49 AM   #1
Dobie Gillis
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Default Horn Ring Questions

Greetings Gents,

I finally got the horns on the '55 Merc to work...sort of. Had a bad relay, probably the original, and one bad horn. I replaced the relay and both horns and finally got the horn button to ground the relay. My question is shouldn't the horn blow when I depress the horn ring? Currently (pun fully intended) the horn only works when I press in the center and it needs quite a bit of strength. Shouldn't I be able to blow the horn by pressing with my thumb on one of the ring cross bars? Shouldn't the ring complete the ground circuit through the steering wheel spokes? The wheel was painted by the PO but it looks like there are two places where the horn ring contacts the spokes when pressed off center. Any help/insights greatly appreciated.
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Old 10-26-2019, 07:47 PM   #2
paul2748
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Default Re: Horn Ring Questions

Yes, the horn should work by pressing the outer parts. If there is paint on the underside that may be causing the problem. Also look for a worn end to the horn wire. I had the same problem in my 54, changed the wire and all works good now.
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Old 10-26-2019, 08:23 PM   #3
Daves55Sedan
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Default Re: Horn Ring Questions

The Merc and Lincoln steering wheels of the early to mid fifties did not have any plastic moulding around the spokes behind the horn ring arms like the Ford wheels did. The bare metal rod was originally not painted and worked well for electrical continuity UNTIL that metal rod became corroded with rust.
Guess you could clean off the rust with light grade sandpaper, then try to polish the rod down to a nice shine with some medium rubbing compound.
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Old 10-27-2019, 09:27 PM   #4
Dobie Gillis
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Default Re: Horn Ring Questions

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Music to my ears! Thanks guys.
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