Why is Grant Wheel Hub Making Horn Honk?

[Lingwendil]

I had two grant adapters on two different cars, and neither had proper horn function. In my research this is apparently a very common issue with them, and I've never been able to figure out why.

After a ton of research, I decided to go with a momo hub adapter and wheel. Perfect fit, proper horn function, and a quick install. They make three-bolt grant wheel adapters to run other wheels on the hubs too, Amazon, Summit, Jegs, etc sell them.

With the momo hub adapter you actually need to remove the turn signal cancelation ring from your OEM wheel, and screw it to the adapter. It then for all intents and purposes functions exactly like the stock wheel.
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[solorogue]

OK. I did just like you said and showed and still the horn button doesn't work.

Ugghh! I don't get this. I am so frustrated. Again, when I first put on the hub adapter, the horn honks and stays on, as it's making contact to the turn signal and wiper switch, but when I then mount on the steering wheel adapter to the hub adapter the horn stops.. why?? Just putting on the metal steering wheel adapter is grounding the horn out?

Then it seems like no matter what I do I can not get the horn to work. So lost and frustrated. I am beyond knowing what to do I want to rip the whole thing out but already dropped the money for the grant club steering wheel, the grant horn button, the hub adapter and steering wheel adapter.. I can't return it now

[Buggeee]

Maybe you blew a fuse while you were putting on that adapter or something Have you checked the fuses
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[solorogue]

The fuse is fine. The horn sounds and stays on when the brass back of the hub adapter makes contact with the brass plate on the turn signal switch, but like I said, once I mount on the steering wheel adapter the horn no longer sounds. Why would just that stop the horn? Just that metal contact grounds it out? I have to say I don't understand how the circuit flows and works for the horn this way.

[Cusser]

Basically: when the wire coming through the steering column makes contact with ground, the horn will blow.

So check from that wire to ground, find where there's an "open". Know how to do this? Test light connected to positive voltage source and the probe to touch the circuit at various places; will light up when the probe is grounded. Obviously the button/switch will be "open" except when it's pushed to close/complete the circuit.

Yes, a voltmeter (or even an ohmmeter) can be used for this.
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[Jimbug57]

Put black electrical tape on the brass wire tab on the horn button. It's part of he circuit with the ground - isolate it and your problem is solved.
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Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!"

[solorogue]

Thanks for the replies guys. I am still 2 weeks in can't figure this out. One says to put black electrical tape on brass connector on the horn button. You mean the brass grounding strap? For two wire horns Grant says to cut the grounding strap off, but the bug is a one wire horn right? Here is a video to help show my dilemma. Maybe I am a moron and happy to say so if it solves my issue. It won't be the first time.

Link

[RWK]

Make sure ground wire at coupling is ok, or check continuity from horn to column wire termination, possible wire touching ground somewhere else.
Horn works by grounding it.
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[solorogue]

I FIGURED OUT MY PROBLEM!!
ok..OK.. on my Grant steering wheel horn install. I appreciate those who have tried to help, from "put electrical tape on, use a test light, trace it through the wiring harness, check the fuse, etc ...
Here is the problem and solution solved for my 74' SB Grant horn problem.. I hope it helps noobs like me


Link

[Buggeee]

Thank goodness!
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1966 Sportsmobile Camper https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
72 Super Duper http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=672387
(adopted out) 61 Turkis Pile https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728764

[Lingwendil]

I bet if you're careful you could cut those nubs off to make it work. Interesting that the hub is made that way
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73 super beetle thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=649622 Back on the Road!

Modify your Kadrons for SVDA http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8115884#8115884

Cast iron VJU4BR8 SVDA reference thread- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Need replacement filters for original Kadron aircleaners? WIX #42087 is a perfect fit, as is Napa Gold #2087!

[solorogue]

Yes, I could have done a MUCH better job grinding off the back tabs on the Grant hub, but I only had my angle grinder handy and did a fast slap dash job to see if removing the tabs hitting the blinker horn contact plate would work. It did, though looks like crap and could be problematic

HERE IS SOME CRUCIAL INFO FOR THE 1974 SUPER BEETLE HUB

Grant does NOT make one for a 1974 Super Beetle. After speaking with Will at Grant Products, http://www.grantproducts.com/ who is awesome and really provided a lot of time and quality support, looking deeply through the Grant catalogue on there installation kits, there is an interesting note. All VM autos are supported EXCEPT the 1974 super beetle! WHAT??
Yep, for some reason that particular year and model, the 1974 super beetle and the 75.5' - 77' Dasher (whatever those are)

Also.. if you use Grant's "application Search" on their website and put in 1974 VW Beetle, it will come up with the #3568 Installation Kit. This will NOT fit a 74 Super Beetle. I figured Beetle/Super Beetle or pretty much the same except size and some features, but apparently the steering wheel hub is different and only for the 1974 model. Say WHAT?!

Also, do not go by the picture they use on the Grant website or others for the hub installation kits. I confirmed with Will over there, that they are using the same stock image for all of the Hub kits and it does not reflect what the hub actually looks like in the picture. Because the picture looks like it's what you would think you need, with the hole through the hub, but on Amazon and some others the same #3568 kit is what the hub really looks like. Confusing to be sure! Don't trust the internet LOL

So in order to use a Grant hub installation kit for a 1974 Super Beetle, you are going to have to grind the back tabs off, which can be done WAY better then I did. That said, does the EMPI Hub adapter kit from Jbugs and others fit and work for the 1974 Super Beetle, are their images correct of what you will actually get, can you use an EMPI hub for a MoMo or Grant Steering wheel? Not sure. A mystery for another day, but the EMPI kit will cost you about $60 and the Grant kit is around $30!

I hope this helps others with the 1974 Super Beetle or anyone else, as it has been a personal quest for me to figure this out ,

[ashman40]

Earlier model years had a C-clip that would prevent the adapter hub from falling too deep into the turn signal switch. When VW reduced the diameter of the splinned portion of the steering shaft they appear to have switched to a plastic spacer shown below:

In another thread someone used a short segment of split schedule 40 PVC tube as a replacement for the stock spacer. Maybe a cheap fix for your problem?

I wonder if you replaced the spacer with a taller one to keep the hub from falling deep into the steering housing you could solve the issue?
The spacer would need to be sized correctly to keep the hub from contacting the turn signal switch but allow the two turn signal cancellation pins to extend into the turn signal switch to trip the auto cancel. You might need to use longer pins?
My one concern would be the PVC segment would be under pressure when you torqued the steering wheel nut down. A split tube would not stand up to that well. Maybe use Loctite to keep the nut on the shaft and only apply a moderate torque to the nut?


BTW, in your video the left side of the brass horn contact on the face of the turn signal switch appears to be raised. I've never seen this before. It looks like a defect. If you compare it with the OE switch in the top pic you can see it should be flat. The horn contact that touches the contact ring on the underside of the steering wheel should only be slightly taller that the face of the turn signal switch. Just tall enough to maintain contact with the ring on the underside of the steering wheel. A little grease on this contact prevents it from wearing thru over time as the wheel is turned.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[solorogue]

I appreciate you reply. The issue is not caused by the adapter hub sliding down to far, it's, as shown in the video, the back of the hub metal nubs touch the blinker contact place and not the brass contact ring on the hub.

You stated "
BTW, in your video the left side of the brass horn contact on the face of the turn signal switch appears to be raised.."
Yes, I bent mine up when experimenting. I just need to bend them back down

[micktz28]

Had the same problem with my 1974 Beetle. I replaced everything to do with the horn, then finely figured out the bottom of the wheel adapter was grounding on the C clip at the top of the spacer, solved with a thin nylon washer on top of the C clip. Now my horn works fine. Hope this helps someone.