The Ford Barn

bbook · 06-30-2014, 01:54 AM

In the course of replacing the steering wheel, I pulled the horn rod out the back window, without putting any bend on it that I could detect. When I got the rod out, it definitely had a bow to it, most of which I was able to remove.

After installing the new (rebuilt) steering wheel, and putting the rod back in with a new brass bushing at the top, and utilizing an end plate at the steering gear with a brass tube to help with fluid retention, I put on a new spider, spring and clip. The top of the horn rod sits against the steering wheel and turns with the wheel. This is the way it was before I took things apart, but I didn't pay much attention, because from the time I got the truck, it didn't have a spider or spring on it and the horn rod was just laying in there.

Am I missing a part that holds the horn button/light switch lever up away from the steering wheel? Or, is my problem that there is just enough bend in the rod that it is making contact with the steering shaft? As I look at pictures I've found, it looks like most horn rod/light switch handles sit down close to the steering wheel, but it seems to me there has to be some space to insure they can turn independently. What am I not understanding here?

06-30-2014, 01:54 AM	#1
bbook Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 84	1936 Big Truck Horn Rod In the course of replacing the steering wheel, I pulled the horn rod out the back window, without putting any bend on it that I could detect. When I got the rod out, it definitely had a bow to it, most of which I was able to remove. After installing the new (rebuilt) steering wheel, and putting the rod back in with a new brass bushing at the top, and utilizing an end plate at the steering gear with a brass tube to help with fluid retention, I put on a new spider, spring and clip. The top of the horn rod sits against the steering wheel and turns with the wheel. This is the way it was before I took things apart, but I didn't pay much attention, because from the time I got the truck, it didn't have a spider or spring on it and the horn rod was just laying in there. Am I missing a part that holds the horn button/light switch lever up away from the steering wheel? Or, is my problem that there is just enough bend in the rod that it is making contact with the steering shaft? As I look at pictures I've found, it looks like most horn rod/light switch handles sit down close to the steering wheel, but it seems to me there has to be some space to insure they can turn independently. What am I not understanding here?