1957 Horn Wire replacement tips/tricks

[TbirdFan76]

I'm replacing the factory horn wire as the brass tip fell off and I've not been successful in reattaching or replacing just the brass tip. The original wire is in place. I'm assuming it would be wise to connect the new wire to existing one and pull it through.

Is it better to pull the new wire from the steering wheel or the gear box end? What problems have you encountered in the process?

I did see an old post on a 1956 horn wire replacement but the situation was a different as the person had the steering column out.

Thanks for any tips and tricks you have.

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[lcboyer]

I soldered new wire to old one and pulled from below gear box. Patience is required

 

[TbirdFan76]

I soldered new wire to old one and pulled from below gear box. Patience is required

Why did you decide to solder rather than use electrical tape? How did you apply the solder without damaging the new wire?

 

[lcboyer]

Why did you decide to solder rather than use electrical tape? How did you apply the solder without damaging the new wire?

I used low temperature solder, cut brass fitting off old wire, stripped back about 1 inch and wrapped wires above new end. Try tape and you will learn why I didn’t use it

 

[Tom Alpers]

I'm replacing the factory horn wire as the brass tip fell off and I've not been successful in reattaching or replacing just the brass tip. The original wire is in place. I'm assuming it would be wise to connect the new wire to existing one and pull it through.

Is it better to pull the new wire from the steering wheel or the gear box end? What problems have you encountered in the process?

I did see an old post on a 1956 horn wire replacement but the situation was a different as the person had the steering column out.

Thanks for any tips and tricks you have.

In picturing this I assume the new wire has a button on the top end and it is too big to fit thru the hole in the steering column. Assuming that to be the case I think the only option is to pull the new wire down thru the steering column. I assume the "bottom" end of the new wire has a bullet connector on it which might make getting it thru a tight fit. Never had to do it. I was able to make a new button for the top of mine using some nylon bushings and a part from a pop-rivet as the actual button.

 

[TbirdFan76]

I got the wire from CASCO. See picture below:

 

[56Redbird]

My recollection when I replaced mine was attaching a strong piece of line to the steering box end of the old wire, then pulling the old wire and line up through the steering wheel hub. So, with old line detached, then attached new wire to line and pulled it back down through the hub to the steering box end. Slow and easy with some assistance to cleanly feed the line back down the column did the trick.

Sounds like an extra step, but I prefer 'pulling' using a piece of line rather than trying to connect 'new' directly to 'old'. To me, using the piece of line results in a less bulky connection lump moving through the column.

Good luck.