Steering Wheel/Horn Problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kcsa75 · 11-21-2010, 01:28 AM

Greetings:

This afternoon I pulled the factory steering wheel off of my 72 Chevy and replaced it with an OEM wheel from a late 80s/early 90s Chevy Truck. Everything bolted up with no problem, except I have no horn.

The horn button/center cap on the new wheel has a tab (see pic) on the underside to attach a wire -- presumably for the horn. The problem is there is no wire.

What am I missing?

Willie

Jacfourteen · 11-21-2010, 01:45 AM

You need to adapt some way to run a wire from the terminal in the center of the red circle at the 12 oclock position in picture #3 to the male connector on the horn button. My grant steering wheel is similar and it came with an adapter to connect the wire to the horn, I don't know if they sell it separate or not. The tab on the horn looks to be a standard 1/4" male spade connector, so to hook to that you would use a 1/4" female spade connector. Maybe someone with some firsthand knowledge on this steering wheel will chime in, Good luck!

Putter · 11-21-2010, 11:45 AM

I found myself looking at the exact same thing a while back (put that same steering wheel on an '84).
Just look for a cheap 'inline fuse holder'.... the cheaper the better. Some old tape decks had them, some cheap CB radios, etc....
Anyway, the kind that holds a glass tube fuse. If you can locate one that the fuse actually slides into a metal hole (instead of pressing against a spring-loaded tab) then you can just clip off one end...which will slide nicely over the little nub that you have sticking out of your steering wheel. Then just crimp on a spade connector to go on the horn button and there you go.

I know that just confused the heck out of everybody. I will go to the garage in a jiffy and see if I kept the unused half of mine and show you what I mean via photo.

FOUND IT....

You need holder like this...(**REMEMBER that I already used the other half, so that is why you only see one wire in the photo)

When you open it you see this...

Take it apart and use this...

It will be too big, so just crimp it down a little with pliers or something. Then fit it over the spring-loaded nub that is sticking out of your wheel (it has the orange circle around it in your photo). Connect the other end to the horn button tab using a spade (speaker) connector (what you have drawn the arrow pointing to).

Finally, be CERTAIN that the long metal tab from the horn button will actually touch the center shaft of your steering column at all times....creating the needed ground.

**Final note...if your horn does NOT honk, remove the button and short the nub (with the orange circle in your pic #3)....short it directly to the center shaft of you wheel (where the big nut is) using a screwdriver or similar. It should honk. If not, you have other issues.

kcsa75 · 11-21-2010, 12:36 PM

Outstanding!

I get it. I should have one of those fuse holders in a coffee can in the garage. Thanks for your help.

Willie

Putter · 11-21-2010, 12:44 PM

Willie, I scratched my head for hours trying to decide what I could use to make that same connection. I ran up on this fuse holder by accident and the idea-lightbulb went *DING*. Been working ever since. I think I did the same thing on my '69, too.

ChevLoRay · 11-21-2010, 01:36 PM

Putter...how close is Puckett, to Starkville?

Jacfourteen · 11-21-2010, 02:58 PM

Great low buck fix idea! I was thinking maybe solder it on, but that is much easier.

Putter · 11-21-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Putter...how close is Puckett, to Starkville?

'bout 2.5 hours....maybe 3 if you sightsee.

11-21-2010, 01:28 AM	#1
kcsa75 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 3,590	Steering Wheel/Horn Problem Greetings: This afternoon I pulled the factory steering wheel off of my 72 Chevy and replaced it with an OEM wheel from a late 80s/early 90s Chevy Truck. Everything bolted up with no problem, except I have no horn. The horn button/center cap on the new wheel has a tab (see pic) on the underside to attach a wire -- presumably for the horn. The problem is there is no wire. What am I missing? Willie Attached Images

11-21-2010, 01:45 AM	#2
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem You need to adapt some way to run a wire from the terminal in the center of the red circle at the 12 oclock position in picture #3 to the male connector on the horn button. My grant steering wheel is similar and it came with an adapter to connect the wire to the horn, I don't know if they sell it separate or not. The tab on the horn looks to be a standard 1/4" male spade connector, so to hook to that you would use a 1/4" female spade connector. Maybe someone with some firsthand knowledge on this steering wheel will chime in, Good luck! __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

11-21-2010, 12:36 PM	#4
kcsa75 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 3,590	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem Outstanding! I get it. I should have one of those fuse holders in a coffee can in the garage. Thanks for your help. Willie

11-21-2010, 12:44 PM	#5
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem Willie, I scratched my head for hours trying to decide what I could use to make that same connection. I ran up on this fuse holder by accident and the idea-lightbulb went DING. Been working ever since. I think I did the same thing on my '69, too. __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

11-21-2010, 01:36 PM	#6
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem Putter...how close is Puckett, to Starkville? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-21-2010, 11:45 AM	#3
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem I found myself looking at the exact same thing a while back (put that same steering wheel on an '84). Just look for a cheap 'inline fuse holder'.... the cheaper the better. Some old tape decks had them, some cheap CB radios, etc.... Anyway, the kind that holds a glass tube fuse. If you can locate one that the fuse actually slides into a metal hole (instead of pressing against a spring-loaded tab) then you can just clip off one end...which will slide nicely over the little nub that you have sticking out of your steering wheel. Then just crimp on a spade connector to go on the horn button and there you go. I know that just confused the heck out of everybody. I will go to the garage in a jiffy and see if I kept the unused half of mine and show you what I mean via photo. FOUND IT.... You need holder like this...(REMEMBER that I already used the other half, so that is why you only see one wire in the photo) When you open it you see this... Take it apart and use this... It will be too big, so just crimp it down a little with pliers or something. Then fit it over the spring-loaded nub that is sticking out of your wheel (it has the orange circle around it in your photo). Connect the other end to the horn button tab using a spade (speaker) connector (what you have drawn the arrow pointing to). Finally, be CERTAIN that the long metal tab from the horn button will actually touch the center shaft of your steering column at all times....creating the needed ground. Final note...if your horn does NOT honk, remove the button and short the nub (with the orange circle in your pic #3)....short it directly to the center shaft of you wheel (where the big nut is) using a screwdriver or similar. It should honk. If not, you have other issues. __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket** Last edited by Putter; 11-21-2010 at 12:15 PM.

11-21-2010, 02:58 PM	#7
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Steering Wheel/Horn Problem Great low buck fix idea! I was thinking maybe solder it on, but that is much easier. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's



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