1956 horn ring removal

[toms1956]

I was able to remove the original horn ring on 1956 t bird but now I am having problems removing the horn ring on the small repro steering wheel. It feels lose but when I try to apply pressure like I did on the original horn ring I cannot get it off. Has someone else had this problem on the repro smaller wheels Or am I just not using the right technique thaks Tom

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[jsonny]

I was able to remove the original horn ring on 1956 t bird but now I am having problems removing the horn ring on the small repro steering wheel. It feels lose but when I try to apply pressure like I did on the original horn ring I cannot get it off. Has someone else had this problem on the repro smaller wheels Or am I just not using the right technique thaks Tom

I had the same problem with my repro smaller steering wheel but was finally able to attach it using a significant amount of pressure. I did check and rechecked the attaching prongs (?) several times to ensure they matched.

 

[knuckle47]

I have read that all of us using the smaller wheel have this same problem. I have one on the ‘57 and on the ‘56. I took two heavier 5 gallon paint stirrer sticks and used them as levers towards the center of the wheel so they did not mar the plastic surface of the plastic. This has worked for me several times. Once you start removing it two Or three times, it gets a lot easier

i would have used two heavy screwdrivers but you would need to cushion the plastic wheel in order not to mark it or dent the material

 

[Yelloweyedog]

Hi, we have a 56 Bird. I have read how to remove the horn ring, but I think ours is stuck. It won’t budge. Is there any way to spray some penetrating oil back in there ? Trying to remove it so I can put the Ford medallion piece in there.
Thanks for any tips.

 

[ICON 56]

Did you first remove two screws at the back of the steering wheel first ?

 

[Yelloweyedog]

There are no screws. I thought only the 55 had screws.

 

[doug7740]

On a 1955 Thunderbird, the screws that are on the back of the steering wheel are Philips screws. Here is a picture of the screw that holds the horn ring to the steering wheel.



On a 1956 Thunderbird, you remove the horn ring by pressing down evenly and then giving it a counterclockwise twist.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[Yelloweyedog]

I have tried but it seems stuck. It will NOT turn at all. Can I spray some penetrating oil in there behind the horn ring ?

 

[56Redbird]

You are pushing down against spring pressure to move locking tangs. The counterclockwise twist, moves the tangs to a 'release' position.

Can't see anyway that penetrating fluid is going to help. Would also be concerned that the fluid might get into the turn signal switch.

Push inward, then turn counterclockwise ...

 

[Tom Alpers]

The reason you can't get it off is because it's not made quite right. It needs to have the internal spacing changed on the parts they send you. The only way to get it off is to just push as hard as you can and pretty much force it without breaking it. There's really no other way. Here is an article I wrote about the various problems with these smaller wheels. It details how to solve the problem you are having.