Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-22-2019, 01:19 PM   #1
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Buyer beware on another repro part

Just recently I repainted my horn and used all new hardware as well. Well, my horn started acting up by not stopping when the button is released. So I checked to see if the horn button was stuck or something in the light switch was buggered up with no luck. So I pull the horn motor cover, everything looks normal. Then on accident I accidently touch a screw to the motor frame and a spark happens because it shorted. I have a lightbulb moment and test my theory with the horn cover screw and it turns it out it was too long and was contacting the frame shorting out the horn and making it turn and turn. I took a few threads off and solved the problem. The screw was a repro part that was too long I guess.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2019, 01:24 PM   #2
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

That exact thing happened to me with a horn cover screw I just bought a few weeks ago as part of the Bratton's "Pro Pack Sparton Horn Rebuild Kit." I thought maybe my cover was a non-standard size. I ended up just looking through my parts cubbies and finding a screw of the right size and length.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 08-22-2019, 01:36 PM   #3
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Known factor for a loooong time.
Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2019, 01:40 PM   #4
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Maybe if we all wrote to the vendors they'd stop selling it. I just thought it was something wrong with my car; if I'd known the part was faulty I would have complained.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2019, 02:16 PM   #5
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

1. My Sport Coupe had a split lock washer on that screw when we got in 1962 ... it never shorted.

I could be wrong but as I remember the lock washer was captive on that screw.

Screw had rolled threads only on the bottom 1/3 of screw so washer would not fall off.

Not sure they had this setup originally.

I think that screw is still on the horn.

2. I see that Bratton's kit has a washer included according to the photo.

I wonder if they short if washer is installed?

https://www.brattons.com/pro-pack-sp...build-kit.html


UPDATE:

I guess that I remembered wrong ... no captive but does have shoulder threads and thin lock washer.

PHOTO of screw ...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg tn_HORN cover screw-01.jpg (29.0 KB, 138 views)

Last edited by Benson; 08-23-2019 at 09:07 AM.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2019, 11:12 PM   #6
SteveB31
Senior Member
 
SteveB31's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Englewood, Colorado
Posts: 1,372
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Not all vendors sell the wrong screw for that application. We sell the right one and have for 40 years. Also, keep in mind many horn covers have had that screw tightened too much in the past pulling the horn motor cover in a bit making even the correct screw appear too short and cause it to short out the brush. Make sure your motor cover is flat and not pulled in around that screw.

Steve @ Bert’s
SteveB31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 01:12 AM   #7
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

But why go to the trouble of spec'ing a shoulder bolt for this application, as Ford apparently did, and then making the threaded portion long enough that it could be screwed in far enough to contact the brush? Tightening the cover too far should be impossible, if the overall length and shoulder length of the bolt are correct.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 05:16 AM   #8
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveB31 View Post
Not all vendors sell the wrong screw for that application. We sell the right one and have for 40 years. Also, keep in mind many horn covers have had that screw tightened too much in the past pulling the horn motor cover in a bit making even the correct screw appear too short and cause it to short out the brush. Make sure your motor cover is flat and not pulled in around that screw.

Steve @ Bert’s
Good point Steve, and I believe the part in question came from Brattons. The Horn motor cover was not the problem, but I can see people tightening it way too tight like they need a seal.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Last edited by chrs1961815; 08-23-2019 at 05:17 AM. Reason: Error
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 07:38 AM   #9
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Haha, I got this email this morning from Bratton's after I complained:

Quote:
Sir thank you for letting us know about this. It appears that my supplier sent us the wrong screw. We are working on getting the correct length back in stock. I'm sorry for the issue.
So there's your explanation. I'd ask for a new screw, but eh, is it worth it?
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 08:20 AM   #10
Railcarmover
BANNED
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,262
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Brattons is a quality vendor who stands behind what they sell.
Railcarmover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 10:39 AM   #11
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Quote:
Originally Posted by alexiskai View Post
Haha, I got this email this morning from Bratton's after I complained:



So there's your explanation. I'd ask for a new screw, but eh, is it worth it?
It is a little screw that can be fixed with a little editing. Not worth the trouble for such a small part other than giving them feedback.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 10:55 AM   #12
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

The purpose of specifying the shoulder screw in the first place is so that the screw bottoms out BEFORE it can be tightened too much to bend the cover and/or short out.

The correct screw is not a simple big box screw without a shoulder.

Last edited by Benson; 08-23-2019 at 11:29 AM.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 12:42 PM   #13
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

I should add that the screw pictured below, from Bratton's, appears to have the correct amount of shoulder vs thread – the problem was that the screw they shipped me and chrs1961815 is not this screw.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 19970.jpg (40.0 KB, 9 views)
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2019, 06:43 AM   #14
rocket1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Midland Park,N.J.
Posts: 1,108
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

I had the same problem awhile back,bought it from Brattons but never complained.
rocket1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2019, 09:41 AM   #15
Ted Duke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fairfield, Virginia
Posts: 615
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Sounds like the vendor responded correctly WHEN notified.


Ted
Ted Duke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2019, 09:56 AM   #16
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Sometimes a person is asked to use their own thinking a bit when repairing things. A simple careful look is all that's needed. Where I used to work as an electronics service tech we referred disparagingly to the "parts replacers" vs the technician. We are lucky to have the parts available for our 90+ year old cars that we have. Use your head, yes some parts need a little reworking, some maybe more than that but at least they are reasonable priced and widely available.
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2019, 10:19 AM   #17
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,484
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Duke View Post
Sounds like the vendor responded correctly WHEN notified.


Ted
Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle View Post
Sometimes a person is asked to use their own thinking a bit when repairing things. A simple careful look is all that's needed.
Very true statements!
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2019, 06:41 PM   #18
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Buyer beware on another repro part

Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle View Post
Sometimes a person is asked to use their own thinking a bit when repairing things. A simple careful look is all that's needed. Where I used to work as an electronics service tech we referred disparagingly to the "parts replacers" vs the technician. We are lucky to have the parts available for our 90+ year old cars that we have. Use your head, yes some parts need a little reworking, some maybe more than that but at least they are reasonable priced and widely available.
Don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I just wanted to let everybody know that the screw was too long and could cause this problem. That is all. I bought the screw because my old one was not satisfactory; trust me, whenever an original part is useable, I use it.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:48 AM.