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MG MGB Technical - Horn Problem

I'm having a problem with the horn on my 74B. When the steering is pointed exactly straight the horn does not work. If, however, the steering wheel is turned just a little bit in either direction it works just fine. Does anyone halve a clue about this? How is the connection made down in the steering shaft? Maybe it just needs cleaning? Thanks for any help! Bob
Bob Ekstrand

There is a slip ring just below the steering wheel, a long spring loaded connector rubs on it , This joins the horn push to the harness . Clean with fine abrasive paper. Make sure the connector is not siezed or worn . Sometimes they get fitted the wrong way and the solder wipes onto the slip ring. Regards Jim
jim soutar

As a matter of interest, what IS the right way to insert the pencil connecter? - it will go in either way, and seems to operate either way - does the long pencil or the short stubby pencil go into the opening provided? John.
J.P. Hall

This John Twist video tells you which direction is correct for the horn contact. It's best to remove the wheel with a puller.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lwf2BDC5DMo

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

Maybe the spring just needs a tweak towards the slip-ring on the wheel. To do this you will probably need to remove the fixed contact from the column outer. Or maybe the contact on the end of the spring has fallen off so the spring itself is barely making contact.

John Twist refers to the pencil as a 'brush', which is incorrect, the fixed contact on the column outer that contacts the slip-ring on the back of the wheel is the brush. He says the one he takes off was the wrong way round, but if it fits either way and works either way then what does it matter? It is only to connect the slip-ring to the contact inside the wheel centre.

A puller can damage the arms of the wheel, I've always used the double-hammer method he shows, although I've never needed an assistant. With you knees braced behind the rim of the wheel you don't need your hands to pull on the top of the rim as well.
Paul Hunt 2

Clifton, I just watch The vidio you sent me on removing the steering wheel. Thank you very much! It's really a great little film. In the next day or two I think I'll give it a try. Maybe if I clean the little spring thing and stretch the spring just a bit I can get it working. Thanks again! Bob
Bob Ekstrand

I took the brass ring completely off the hub and cleaned it thoroughly with emery paper. Completely solved all my horn problems.

The pencil shaped spring contacts the brass ring at just one point on the top of the ring. You have to make sure that point is clean. I know that it will work with either end inserted first. However, I take it that the ball nose end goes in first to keep the contact point with brass ring more stable.

The brush (really more of a pressure strip then a brush) rides the back of the brass ring as the wheel rotates. Therefore you must make sure the tip of the brush is clean as well as the entire back of the brass ring.

Be careful removing and reinstalling the brass ring. The tabs that hold it can be easily broken.

BH Davis
BH Davis

Surely the pencil goes through holes in the wheel and horn button and so rotates with the wheel, pressing on the same point on the back of the brass ring all the time? That's why I say it isn't a brush. It is the fixed contact behind the wheel attached to the column outer that is the brush.
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2008 and 27/04/2008

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