Moss Motors, Ltd

Hi Folks, Here's one of my next projects - ideas welcome please...

I have an aftermarket but old steering wheel and an original horn push found by my wife on e-bay (as fitted to the bakelite steering wheel). I want to combine the two for a functional and decorative result in keeping with the car - a 1967 roadster. Obviously I will need to adapt the horn push and /or fabricate some method of mounting everything neatly.

 The background... The wheel is a wood rim on a dished chrome frame, it has spokes at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock each with circular cutouts and is marked "The 500". Mounting to the boss is by 3 bolts with plain shoulders - these provided the journals for a horn mechanism lost many years and owners ago. I believe the wheel has been on the car from early on, as it seems to be a 60's style. Fortunately I do have access to a reasonable workshop, and could make some small parts.

 When I first saw the car, I was adamant that the steering wheel had to go. The wooden rim was loose, warped, cracked and dry. My wife thought we should try and save it. When I researched the cost of replacement, I figured there was little to lose by triyng a restoration. I repinned, filled & sanded the wood, then restained and laquered it. This brought about quite a transformation, no longer does the driver get splinters while turning left!The wheel has a clean classic look with a little "patina" that fits well with the rest of the car. A pristine new wheel would stick out like a sore thumb. The only thing lacking is the horn push and the smart MG octagon. Instead there is a dangling wire and the 15/16" nut that secures the boss.

I'll keep you psted with progress & hopefully, pictures,

 Cheers,

 Ed

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I want my MGB

Good luck, Ed.

 Look forward to the updates.

Ed, sounds like an old Grant or Superior wheel that you've got and the horn push from a 'banjo' style B wheel. If you can find an old broken B banjo style wheel hub I think I'd try to use the front half of that for an adaptor. It would have to be cut at the spoke line, probably on a lathe or by hand if you are really careful to keep the saw straight. There should be enough material remaining in the center to drill to the three bolt pattern and bolt it on in front of the wheel. Then you're horn push would attach by the original set screws.

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'73 Midget (V6)
'59 MGA (I6) under construction
'73 Lotus Europa
'52 MG TD kit car body project.
'98 Jag XK8

"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

Bill,

Thanks, I think you hit the nail on the head with the parts I have. That's great advice on a possible solution. Originally I thought about finding a banjo wheel for the car, but they command a pretty serious price and yet seem somewhat unpopular for driving, as they are rather large.

 Will keep everyone posted - but don't hold your breath ;)

 Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB

update...

I'm homing in on this problem, now that I have a few other things sorted. Luckily I have access to some machine tools through work. The details for a secondary boss to fit the classic horn button to the wheel are coming together. This will be in two parts, A lower disc that is attached to the wheel, and an upper disc that carries the original type switch mechanism. The two parts will push together using pins to locate and hold by interference fit. This way there wil be no screws visible, so it should look tidy.

Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB

Hello all! This is more of a question than a reply. My '75 has a very nice replacment wheel, the center badge is in excellent shape, the horns (after adjusting) work well -  but pushing the badge does not honk the horns. After removing the badge, there is single wire attached that runs to the brass ring under the steering wheel and encircling the steering shaft. If I ground this wire that is attached to the badge, the horns work fine. There is no "horn brush". The drawing in the catalog doesn't help much, the service manual doesn't address and I haven't found a "tech tip". Has anyone seen other drawings or other information that would be of assistance. Thank you much!

I have same problem as Blue 75 with my green 74B...the center badge is fine, horn sounds upon grounding.  Is the fix as simple as replacing the Horn brush or is there something more elusive? Suggestions welcome!

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Hugh

I'd like to take a stab at the problem with the non-functioning badge / horn push with the spade connection. The badge is held in place by spring tensioned round "clips" that need to make metal to metal contact with the wheel adaptor. Pushing the horn button completes this circuit internally in the button. But I believe that there still should be a brush in the adaptor, perhaps not exactly the same as the original. Just a guess based on the way my replacement wheel is set up.      ken

Interesting that this thread has turned up some other problems! I'm sorry that I can't advise on them. I'm unfamiliar with the mechanisms from later cars (ours is a '67). In fact all I have ever seen is some random collections of bits from various different horn switches, nothing that actually fit the car correctly - hence my own predicament. It didn't help that both horns had been removed some time in the past.

However I'm pleased to say that the problem is sorted. I managed to make a neat 2 part boss to allow the old style horn push (with nice MG badge) to be mounted at the centre of my reclaimed (from beyond disaster) wood rim steering wheel. Replacement horns have been fitted behind the grille and Maude now has her beep back.

 Success!

 Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB