The Series II column wasn’t originally set up for a horn push. The
push is on the end of the turn signal shaft.
That said, I converted a couple of S2 columns to a center push. It’s
tricky to do, but well within the universe of pdoable tasks. I think
there was a write up I had done years ago for the old E-Type Lovers
mailing list that tells you how., if George knows where to find it,
maybe he can point it out to you. That version required a Nardi
wheel, but I’ve since figured out how to convert a stock wheel. The synopsis:
-
You need to completely disassemble the column.
-
You need to create a slip ring on the lower column shaft. The way
I did this was to take a piece of 1" shrink wrap and shrink it over
the shaft. This acts as an insulator. Then cut a short bit of 3/4"
copper plumbing and solder a length of insulated wire to the inside
of the ring. Slip the ring over the shaft and epoxy it to the shrink
wrap. Run the wire up through the hole in the upper shaft. -
create a brush holder from a banana plug, which can be obtained
from radio shack. Cut the inside contacts out, leaving you a hollow
shell. Get a copper roofing nail and work down the head until it fits
easily into the shell, with the point sticking out the back end. Then
insert a spring so that one end rests on the head of the nail. When
you screw the plug back in, the other end of the spring will contact
the backside of the plug. When finished, the copper nail will
protrude from the back, and the spring will allow you to compress
it into the plastic holder. Cut the free end of the copper nail to
about 1/4". This contact will insert into one of the diamond cutouts
in the mesh support, and you can fashion a support out of sheet metal
and a hose clamp to hold it against the slip ring. -
Cut a round bit of rubber or plastic and slip it all the way down
into the upper shaft. Then take an old telescoping radio antenna, and
cut out a length from the top, cut at the second section down. This
will be the horn button contact: the two pieces allow it to telescope
when you move the wheel in and out. The nib of the antenna is what’s
going to contact the horn push. Slide a suitable spring over the
antenna so that it rests on against the nib. Find a plumbing washer
that’s a tight fit around the antenna, and slide it over the end.
Turn the washer down so that it slips into the shaft without much
binding. Solder the other end of the slip ring lead to the antenna
shaft. Then slide the antenna into the steering shaft. Install the
new push ring, and your’re all done except for taking it apart three
more times to adjust.
That’s the synopsis, the devil is in the details, and it’s not worth
much without photos. Then again, this is more guidance than I had
when I did it. I figure it’s a good Saturday afternoon project if you
have the bits, patience and skill to do it.
Mike Frank
At 11:38 AM 4/12/2013, you wrote:>Tackling the horn problem on my Series 2 OTS. Some time ago
someone removed and discarded all the horn contact innerds from
the upper steering outer tube assembly. I ordered a complete horn
rebuild kit which advertised ‘‘everything to get that horn working
again!’’, which I figured would take care of me. However, I’ve got
the collasable outer tube assembly which is different than any of
the pictures I’ve seen anywhere (spare parts manuals, ventor sites,
etc.), and it’s not obvious to me how to assemble things, or even
where to start. One problem is that the horn push rod seems to be
too long - it won’t insert beyond a certain point and then is still
sticking out of the top of the column. The whole things seems to
be a different set up - don’t know where to install the contcts.
Any help appreciated!Charlie 1967 XKE 2+2, 1970 XKE Roadster
Great Falls, Virginia, United States
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