Horn Help

[Gars68]

I know the actual horns work as a remote horn button/switch was mounted under the dash by the previous owner due to the OE horn not working. So, what/how do I need to test in the steering wheel/turn signal area? Should I be getting voltage to that brass, flexible arm that makes contact with the back of the wheel? What's that little white (maybe 3/16 diameter) round thing? Can someone list the components I should be seeing from the big round horn push/button and back? Thanks!

[notoptoy]

Online parts manual is your friend!!
http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun311 ... fault.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Nissanman]

Unfortunately, that line drawing leaves a bit to be desired
I have a series of pics. showing the horn button assembly which, at great expense, I post below: -

In the beginning, there was a steering wheel.


Horn button removed. This is from a '65 SP310.
There is a tiny rectangular notch at the base of the chromed button into which you insert a small flat blade screwdriver and twist to remove the button assembly.


The view of the steering wheel hub once the horn button is removed.
You can see the little jumper wire screwed down onto the HOT ring.


Underneath the steering wheel you can see the brass terminal that rubs onto the hub ring.....


..... which is shown here.


With the first part of the horn button removed you can see the other end of the jumper wire.
This end is electrically connected to the brass ring referred to in the previous pic.


Now you can see the horn button in detail and I'll peel it back, layer by layer.


Backside of previous item.


Essential part of the horn is the cushion spring, actually a rubber ring.
This is vital to separate the HOT and GROUND sides of the horn circuit and provide the spring return after the horn is pressed.


This where the cushion spring is placed in the assembly.


Now to dismantle the horn hub.


HOT plate is removed to expose the GROUND plate and insulated screw posts.


GROUND plate removed showing the insulating disc fitted to the horn button case.


Horn button assembly in order of components.

Now, I suppose the '68 is completely different but I couldn't help myself

[DanR]

Nissanman, thanks for posting these pictures, it will help me later on when I buy the "spring" for my early car.

Gar's68, assuming you have a 68 by your name, here is the wiring schematic from the Tech Wiki section of the site. If I'm reading it correctly, it looks like the horn button is a grounding switch that goes to the relay.
http://www.311s.org/PDFs/1968%20Datsun% ... 20rev1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Gars68]

wow.....I'm impressed! Thank you all for the feedback. Now I have a project for the weekend and will report back soon.

[brubojacru]

If you have a 1968 your steering wheel and horn button should look more like these pictures taken during dis-assembly of my 1969:

Removing the horn button.

CIMG4579.JPG

Wheel with button removed.

CIMG4581.JPG

Wheel removed.

CIMG4582.JPG

Reverse side.

CIMG4583.JPG

Steering column showing spring contact at bottom.

CIMG4585.JPG

With plastic cover removed.

CIMG4587.JPG

...and from the other side.

CIMG4588.JPG

Column removed and cleaned up...shows mount bracket and 2 halves of plastic ignition cover.

CIMG6328.JPG

I did not dis-assemble the parts from the horn button further than shown, nor on the steering column, but I think you can make out most of the pieces. Hope it helps!

[notoptoy]

Awesome sets of pictures Members, this should probably be in the wiki all by itself.

[Gars68]

Things are getting better by the hour. Cleaned off all brass connectors and put the OE wheel back on and guess what.....she works!

[Nissanman]

[redroadster]

you can get a high voltage shock from the horn connections on non relay systems
a problem if you have heart problems best to pull the fuse or replace the horns with a testlite in that case

[jarhead]

Interesting thread. I noticed that when I put m horn assembly back together, I get a little shock when I push the horn button down. Good thing I don't have a pacemaker. Any thoughts as to what I did wrong reassembling? It's a '66

[redroadster]

all the pieces of the rotating ring ,swt. are to be non contact with the steering wheel metal
sounds like you may have a lite connection ,high ohm which the high voltage ( maybe 5000 V )jumps , in the summer high humidity it zaps alot
have you tested the horns with a jumper wire ?,it's way worse if they are stuck

[Phred58]

A suggestion if this is going in the wiki is how to remove the horn button from the late model roadsters. I can't tell you the number of buttons I've seen ruined because the owner couldn't figure out how to remove the button and just tried to twist it off thus shearing the foam.

To remove the button, push on the button and then twist (counterclockwise IIRC - others please correct me if I'm wrong and it's the other direction). And yes, the horn will sound so you might want to pull the fuse or disconnect the horns to decrease the anxiety level when removing the button otherwise someone's going to come out and ask why you're honking the horn so much. Also, disconnecting avoids the shock problem.

[leonhart]

Sorry to resurrect the thread, but my horn came in a bag with pieces that didn't belong, and other parts MIA (including the "spring"). I've got a '67 and mostly looks similar (other than my steering wheel is on the left hand side )

Anyway, the spring rubber sits between the steering wheel itself:



And the back of this section of the horn assembly?



Is that correct? I think that's what you are saying, and appears to be what the parts diagram shows.

Does the spring rubber just sit back there, or is there some way to properly attach/set it in? It just seems kind of wonky if left to its own devices ... it wants to curl on itself a little bit. But I don't really see an "obvious" way that it is supposed to be positioned, other than that it looks like the "open" end goes toward the steering wheel?

Thanks for any help!

[devo]

Sorry to resurrect the thread, but my horn came in a bag with pieces that didn't belong, and other parts MIA (including the "spring"). I've got a '67 and mostly looks similar (other than my steering wheel is on the left hand side )

Anyway, the spring rubber sits between the steering wheel itself:



And the back of this section of the horn assembly?



Is that correct? I think that's what you are saying, and appears to be what the parts diagram shows.

Does the spring rubber just sit back there, or is there some way to properly attach/set it in? It just seems kind of wonky if left to its own devices ... it wants to curl on itself a little bit. But I don't really see an "obvious" way that it is supposed to be positioned, other than that it looks like the "open" end goes toward the steering wheel?

Thanks for any help!

You are Correct in its orientation/position. I used a little weatherstrip adhesive to hold in position.