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Horn ring only works on left side
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Zylinderkopf
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 7:04 pm    Post subject: Horn ring only works on left side Reply with quote

OK - I had to walk away from my bug after working on a horn ring issue for 2 hours now and ready to pull my gray hair out!

I replaced the horn ring on my '66 after the old one broke. Installed a replacement but now the horn only works when I press down on the left side of the ring. I tried loosening and tightening the screws but without success. Maybe a common problem? Anyone have a fix/suggestion for me? Thanks
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grandpa pete
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the horn works when you ground out the circuit by pushing down on the horn ring and squeezing the spring loaded part . if it only works on one side you aren't making the proper contacts inside .
there are several threads on how to stack the internal components properly .
start here
http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqhorn.htm
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hitest
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The most fussy parts in those for me are the three little opaque white insulators. If one is cracked, when the ring on one side is depressed, the spring and screw swim a little in their individual mounting tubes. I'm probably really wrong here, but I'd assume that lowers the effectiveness of the needed ground from the horn ring to the metal of the wheel. Also, it's just as important to have clean screw threads in here as anywhere else on the car you need a good ground (turn signals, taillights, etc.)

In essence, I'm guessing the side that works has a better insulator. What happens when you press evenly around the whole ring? Good luck and report back!
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pdowty68
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Id try to clean up the contacts
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Cusser
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For me the trick is to not tighten the three little screws fully, to tighten them to get the horn ring evenly spaced from the contacts. I think your one side if "off".
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Zylinderkopf
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks everyone. I followed all of your advice and got the horn to work. Not sure what did it, but I have a feeling it was a combination of cleaning the contacts and losening the screws a little at a time. Had them bottomed out before. So, for the next person that needs to get this done, here is how I did it:

Take off horn button using fingernail at bottom and pressing up. This releases the metal tab at the top of the horn button.
Then unscrew the horn ring and ground wire, being careful not to lose screws, plastic washers and springs. I cleaned that brass ring along the inside of the steering wheel with emory cloth. Then I did the same to the ground wire and to the brass contact ring. I reassembled everything. Note: lining up the screws, plastic washers and springs through the horn ring and contact ring is a bitch! Everything kept falling apart before I could get it lined up with the holes inside the steering wheel. But finally I got it. Then I tightened the 3 screws and backed them up again a few turns until the horn ring can be pressed down on each side and it springs back up. Attach the ground wire. test the horn (must have driven my neighbors nuts, but at least I had the garage door closed). Adjust the 3 screws a little at a time as necessary to get both sides of horn ring to work.
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1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1971 Super Beetle
1974 Thing


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codycat
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome - I have the exact same problem - thanks for the instructions and the visual aid lol
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