Horn button assembly, HELP - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AirSpeed · 05-14-2010, 09:18 PM

I am reasembling my truck after paint and the horn button is driving me nuts, I am pretty sure I'm not missing any parts but I can't get it to work. I have the plastic bushing with the three tabs that the screws go through, the thin concave steel spring washer (for lack of knowing it's real name) and the steel piece that the plastic decorative horn button snaps into.
I have tried every possible configuration to assemble this thing and nothing works, it goes together but the button will not depress when pushed. I looked at the exploded drawing in my LMC catalog, I have all the parts they show in the drawing, the way it's shown in there definately does not work.
Do any of you have experiance with this simple yet frustrating part? I can't help but think I am looking past something. It's has to be a matter so simple that I am just not seeing it! If anyone has an idea please share it with me!

71 super · 05-14-2010, 09:30 PM

The flat spring washer goes in with dome up, the button does not depress so much as it makes the circuit complete

**LockDoc** · 05-14-2010, 10:41 PM

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The LMC catalog is wrong.

Be sure to note how the parts come out, especially the flat metal disk. It is not flat, it has a slight dish to it. Also, the metal cup has a notch in it that matches a tab on the rubber part of the horn button, so it has to be installed in a certain position or the horn button will be off center.

The large plastic piece with the spring loaded contact goes under the steering wheel and the contact tower sticks up through a hole in the steering wheel hub. The disk is the first piece to go inside the steering wheel, then the metal cup, then the plastic retainer with the three screws. If you hold the metal cup in your hand and put the retainer down inside it you will see that the bosses on the plastic retainer fit snug inside the holes in the cup. Turn that assembly upside down and put the metal disk on it and you will see that the holes in the disk just fit over the bosses on the retainer also. That is the way it has to go together. It can be tough getting it all lined up down inside the steering wheel and keeping the metal disk in place. If the disk gets out of place and gets pinched between the steering wheel hub and the retainer, either the horn won't honk or it will honk all the time.

This is one of those procedures that is hard to put into words but fairly easy to do so I hope you can follow my rambling....

LockDoc

*72lb4x4* · 05-14-2010, 10:42 PM

Not sure if this will help, but its the only pic I could find.

The pic is of a column I bough here and put in the truck with an 88 or so steering wheel. I was somewhat surprised that the horn worked after undoing the rig job that some PO did.

hdandd · 05-15-2010, 12:13 PM

Does anybody have step by step pictures?

**Classic Heartbeat** · 05-15-2010, 12:48 PM

No pictures but let me take a shot at it.
Take the Horn button retainer in one hand, and set the bushing into it (pushing it into the holes of the retainer.)
Now take a spot of red grease and place a little on the concave spring washer and place it under the retainer, (the cup should be facing up against the bottom of the retainer) aligning it so the holes in the spring washer go over the 3 tab bushing. (The red grease will hold the spring cup to the bottom of the retainer.)
Place all thre screws into the bushing.
Carefully set the entire assembly into the steering wheel being sure that the screws are lined up with the screw holes in the steering wheel.
Tighten the screws and set the horn button into the retainer. Done deal!!

I think that the problem you are having is the spring washer is slipping off of the bushing and when you tighten the screws you flatten it. WES

AirSpeed · 05-15-2010, 04:53 PM

Thanks for all the responses, I am now sure I have assembled all the components in the correct order and procedure, unfotunately it still does not move, it seems as though it is mounted solid to the steering wheel and has no action as it should. I made sure the spring washer lines up with the bushings on the plastic retainer so I don't think that is my ptoblem. I walked away from it last night before I became frustrated, maybe today it will just fall into place! As long as I know I am placing the parts in the correct order I will be able to figure it out. Thanks for all the help!
Aaron

05-14-2010, 09:18 PM	#1
AirSpeed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fall River California Posts: 2,026	Horn button assembly, HELP I am reasembling my truck after paint and the horn button is driving me nuts, I am pretty sure I'm not missing any parts but I can't get it to work. I have the plastic bushing with the three tabs that the screws go through, the thin concave steel spring washer (for lack of knowing it's real name) and the steel piece that the plastic decorative horn button snaps into. I have tried every possible configuration to assemble this thing and nothing works, it goes together but the button will not depress when pushed. I looked at the exploded drawing in my LMC catalog, I have all the parts they show in the drawing, the way it's shown in there definately does not work. Do any of you have experiance with this simple yet frustrating part? I can't help but think I am looking past something. It's has to be a matter so simple that I am just not seeing it! If anyone has an idea please share it with me!

05-14-2010, 09:30 PM	#2
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,080	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP The flat spring washer goes in with dome up, the button does not depress so much as it makes the circuit complete __________________ 67 blue step side- bb 68 gold and white swb cst anniversary 68 custom swb hot rod Ls swap 69 swb cst 6 cylinder/ overdrive 69 black/black cst bb swb 70 orange and white cst Canada built truck swb bb 71 black and white super swb bb 71 red and white super swb 72 green and white super swb 4x4 62 nova wagon 400 series Ls swapped 68 Camaro 327/4 speed- 1 owner, original paint 66 Volkswagen bettle 69 auto stick Volkswagen Beetle

05-14-2010, 10:41 PM	#3
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,815	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP - The LMC catalog is wrong. Be sure to note how the parts come out, especially the flat metal disk. It is not flat, it has a slight dish to it. Also, the metal cup has a notch in it that matches a tab on the rubber part of the horn button, so it has to be installed in a certain position or the horn button will be off center. The large plastic piece with the spring loaded contact goes under the steering wheel and the contact tower sticks up through a hole in the steering wheel hub. The disk is the first piece to go inside the steering wheel, then the metal cup, then the plastic retainer with the three screws. If you hold the metal cup in your hand and put the retainer down inside it you will see that the bosses on the plastic retainer fit snug inside the holes in the cup. Turn that assembly upside down and put the metal disk on it and you will see that the holes in the disk just fit over the bosses on the retainer also. That is the way it has to go together. It can be tough getting it all lined up down inside the steering wheel and keeping the metal disk in place. If the disk gets out of place and gets pinched between the steering wheel hub and the retainer, either the horn won't honk or it will honk all the time. This is one of those procedures that is hard to put into words but fairly easy to do so I hope you can follow my rambling.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

05-14-2010, 10:42 PM	#4
72lb4x4 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 1,427	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP Not sure if this will help, but its the only pic I could find. The pic is of a column I bough here and put in the truck with an 88 or so steering wheel. I was somewhat surprised that the horn worked after undoing the rig job that some PO did. Attached Images

05-15-2010, 12:13 PM	#5
hdandd Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cullman Alabama Posts: 56	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP Does anybody have step by step pictures? __________________ 71 C-15 350 three speed.

05-15-2010, 12:48 PM	#6
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,766	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP No pictures but let me take a shot at it. Take the Horn button retainer in one hand, and set the bushing into it (pushing it into the holes of the retainer.) Now take a spot of red grease and place a little on the concave spring washer and place it under the retainer, (the cup should be facing up against the bottom of the retainer) aligning it so the holes in the spring washer go over the 3 tab bushing. (The red grease will hold the spring cup to the bottom of the retainer.) Place all thre screws into the bushing. Carefully set the entire assembly into the steering wheel being sure that the screws are lined up with the screw holes in the steering wheel. Tighten the screws and set the horn button into the retainer. Done deal!! I think that the problem you are having is the spring washer is slipping off of the bushing and when you tighten the screws you flatten it. WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys Last edited by Classic Heartbeat; 05-15-2010 at 12:49 PM.

05-15-2010, 04:53 PM	#7
AirSpeed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fall River California Posts: 2,026	Re: Horn button assembly, HELP Thanks for all the responses, I am now sure I have assembled all the components in the correct order and procedure, unfotunately it still does not move, it seems as though it is mounted solid to the steering wheel and has no action as it should. I made sure the spring washer lines up with the bushings on the plastic retainer so I don't think that is my ptoblem. I walked away from it last night before I became frustrated, maybe today it will just fall into place! As long as I know I am placing the parts in the correct order I will be able to figure it out. Thanks for all the help! Aaron



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