Horn wiring with blocked hollow shaft

[rhoffa]

I am working on my '39 pickup and I have a complete steering box & column assembly out of a '40 pickup along with a banjo steering wheel. My plan is to keep the banjo steering wheel, the hollow center shaft and the column tube, but not the steering box. The bottom end of the hollow shaft will require a coupler (3/4" round x double D) then some double D bar with another coupler to hook up to the power IFS front end I plan on using. My question is how do I wire the '40 horn button if the end of the hollow shaft is closed off by the coupler at the bottom of the hollow shaft? With the setup described I can't use a horn rod, which I don't have anyways. Also I plan on using a light switch in the dash like a '40 model, so no concerns with that wiring.....yet.

 

[5851a]

Jeep CJs did it in the 40's. Video's on the Utube

 

[rich b]

Use a Jeep A302 brush (spring loaded contact) along with a copper water pipe coupling.

Decide on location, drill and elongate a small hole in the steering shaft, solder a wire on the coupling, "glue" the coupling on the shaft with JB Weld (but neatly), run the wire thru the hole up to the horn contact, drill a hole in the column tube, screw the Jeep brush onto the tube, run the wire to your horn or horn relay, and you should be operational.

***See additional info on insulating copper coupling in post #6

 

[petehoovie]

Use a Jeep A302 brush (spring loaded contact) along with a copper water pipe coupling.

Decide on location, drill and elongate a small hole in the steering shaft, solder a wire on the coupling, "glue" the coupling on the shaft with JB Weld (but neatly), run the wire thru the hole up to the horn contact, drill a hole in the column tube, screw the Jeep brush onto the tube, run the wire to your horn or horn relay, and you should be operational.

 

[rhoffa]

Wow, thanks for the great information guys! How clever, I think I will give that a go.

 

[rich b]

Forgot to add that under the JB Weld holding the copper coupling is a chunk of plastic pipe insulating it from the steering shaft.

 

[petehoovie]

Forgot to add that under the JB Weld holding the copper coupling is a chunk of plastic pipe insulating it from the steering shaft.

 

[big job]

A lot of trucks buses loaders have that set up,so it's not a rare thing so you should be able to buy a new one...

 

[37 truck]

Lime Works sells just such an item for ford columns allowing a horn button to work without the rod.

 

[petehoovie]

Lime Works sells just such an item for ford columns allowing a horn button to work without the rod.

https://www.limeworkshotrodparts.com/products/rhk1001

https://www.limeworkshotrodparts.com/products/rhk1001

 

[rhoffa]

Thanks guys for all the input. FYi, looks like LimeWorks is out of these kits, but I found it on Amazon for $65.

 

[rich b]

Maybe some info that may help others with their projects.

Here's another way I've done a brush in the past. Grab an old GM horn contact out of the junk drawer. Solder a wire on one end, drill a hole in the column tube for snug fitting grommet, slide the contact into the grommet, and you have a brush at little or no cost.

A couple more pictures of a giz I made to turn the wire inside the shaft into a horn button contact. A little chunk of nylon turned to shape in a drill press along with brass tube, screw, and set screw.

 

[Lowdown40]

WEEDETR Street Rod Components make a kit for that with a new shaft.

 

[glennpm]

Maybe some info that may help others with their projects.

Here's another way I've done a brush in the past. Grab an old GM horn contact out of the junk drawer. Solder a wire on one end, drill a hole in the column tube for snug fitting grommet, slide the contact into the grommet, and you have a brush at little or no cost.

A couple more pictures of a giz I made to turn the wire inside the shaft into a horn button contact. A little chunk of nylon turned to shape in a drill press along with brass tube, screw, and set screw.

Good option.