Horn

[splitjunkie]

This is a great thread on the restoration of the Hella horns and the video explains the operation of all electric horns really well. They are dead simple devices and are basically an electromechanical oscillator.

I will add that if adjusting the contacts doesn't work then the horn should be disassembled and the contacts should be lightly filed and then adjusted once the horn id reassembled and back in the car. If the horn is a later crimpted together version then adjusting the contacts is the only option. If adjustment doesn't work then the only real option is to replace it.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=663337&highlight=horn+rebuild
_________________
Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[rideklein]

sorry if this is redundant and has all been discussed before BUT, I have tried EVERYTHING, first of all it's a 1966 6V, horn works when tested....all contacts have been cleaned, new horn ring, contact plate, plastic washers springs etc. And as described earlier....when I push and release the horn ring, I get a little "chirp" or "blip"....I've also seen on-line that the contact plate in the steering wheel should be cupped side up and cupped side down?!?!?and yes, I've tried it both ways. I did have the gas tank out and did some painting around the front beam but was careful to protect and clean the ground contacts...…………..any thoughts? Thanks, Bob

[rideklein]

I just checked a youtube video regarding the installation of the horn ring, contact plate etc. Looks like it may be the order I have been installing the plastic washers....it appears the correct way is as follows:...starting with the horn ring and working down toward the steering tube...…plastic washers slip over the screws, then the screws through the chrome horn ring, then the brass contact pate (with cupped/lip side down) goes on the back/down side of the chrome horn ring then the plastic sleeve/washers go into the brass contact ring with the long part of the washer going "up" into the brass ring...then the springs, then it all gets mounted into the steering wheel, remember the brown ground wire has to go through the middle of the brass contact plate and chrome horn ring. Not sure if all the contact surfaces need to be filed or sanded for best connection? Such simple wiring but I have not had good luck getting it to work. Again, this is for my 1966 6V.

[glutamodo]

The contact plate goes on as seen here:

_________________
Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[rideklein]

is there a horn relay for a 6volt? (1966 bug) I installed a "Hard Start" relay for starting issues and it works fine.
Thanks for all the input and help!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob

[glutamodo]

Well, this about adding a relay where there was none from the factory. And the same kind of relay you'd use for a starter low voltage relay is what you'd want for the horn. I posted a link to one such a couple of pages ago.

https://www.newark.com/te-connectivity-potter-brum...a50a240614
_________________
Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[Class_gas]

Another resurrection on this great thread! My horn has had a ground short for some time. I took off the shrink today to see and here's what I have. This ground wire is connected to the horn, comes into the cabin... where should it go? It's so short.

[/img]
_________________
1966 Beetle, daily driver.

Former love affairs- '65, '69, '74 Beetle, '74 Thing, '78 Westy.

[glutamodo]

What year and model is this? There should be no return wire from the horn. Just the black/yellow power feed that goes to the horn itself, the other wire out of the horn then goes to the tab on the steering column tube. The only other wire goes down the center of the hollow column shaft.


Oh, I clicked on the 6VDC horn relay link I had above, but apparently Newark changed their site and now you can't directly link to anything, even searches, on their site any more. But you'll find a couple of matches if you search the Newark site for "6VDC Automotive Relay"
_________________
Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[Class_gas]

It's a '66 that's been converted to 12 volt.

The horn was always grounding somewhere so I disconnected it at the steering wheel. Today I removed all the shrink to locate the short. This wire was folded over on itself. The wrap tore & this popped out before I could see if/what it was touching. Then I realized the steering tube AND the steering box had wires. The insulation was broken on the one to the box. Is this unused?
_________________
1966 Beetle, daily driver.

Former love affairs- '65, '69, '74 Beetle, '74 Thing, '78 Westy.

[thomas.]

I found these photos in theSamba gallery. Not my photos. The 1st photo looks like an add on button . The 2nd photo is from a ghia. A general idea of where the wire connects. Hope this helps.

[Class_gas]

Well, that certainly makes sense as to why it is so short. Now here's my conundrum- I don't have the connector on my steering column. I've got the one of the other side of the firewall & the one at the rubber grommet at the steering box, but not the one on the column in the cabin as seen in that second image.
_________________
1966 Beetle, daily driver.

Former love affairs- '65, '69, '74 Beetle, '74 Thing, '78 Westy.

[glutamodo]

The photo is too clean... It might look like it's inside the car But It Is Not In The Cabin. it's under the car.

_________________
Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[Class_gas]

Andy T. I understand now, this is on the opposite side of my photo. Both of these connectors in your photos are connected on my Beetle. My wire running down the steering shaft is red, not brown, but it's all hooked up as your photos show.

The brown wire you see in my cabin (that is not connected) terminates on the second terminal on the horn speaker. The black wire with yellow stripe is the horn power. So, should the ground (brown wire) you see in my photo be routed into the luggage compartment somewhere?
_________________
1966 Beetle, daily driver.

Former love affairs- '65, '69, '74 Beetle, '74 Thing, '78 Westy.