Reaffixing steering wheel:horn issues

[Peter Horsman]

Hi all. I had my steering wheel renewed on my 230SL. This entailed taking of all the old resin of the wheel and cross bar (this reveals the metal underpinnings)and renewing it in a mould. Now I refix the wheel to the column and I find that as I tighten up the wheel, it actuates the horn ring on the column. Not good. I can leave the wheel not very tightened such that the horn push then effects the actuation of the horn ring on the column but I don't think that that is correct!

What have I missed, please??   Has the issue been caused by the recasting of the resin?

[BobH]

Hello Peter, i can't see what refurbishing the wheel would cause an issue, more likely some movement between the horn ring and contact points, or a pinched wire shorting out. Have a look on here for some good pictures

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=33714.msg246918#msg246918

One side of the horn ring is fed from a brown ground (-ve) wire from the column switch connection box, and the switched ground, through the horn push, out on a black/yellow/pink wire, back to the column switch, and then onwards to the horns, perhaps these wires are shorting together somehow, or the black/yellow/pink wire is getting a short to ground from somewhere else.  Best take everything apart and then carefully reassemble

Were you happy with the finish of your wheel?  others might be interested to know the process

[GM]

Make sure you have the 3 rubber "bumpers" in place - 115-464-00-24 (3 needed)

[ctaylor738]

Be sure that the carbon brush leads are in good condition and not grounding.  Be careful because the brush set is NLA.

Also, that the slip rings are not touching.  That part is also NLA.

Good luck,

CT

[Peter Horsman]

Thank you all. I will revisit the problem when I have a few moments. At the moment, I simply took off the wheel (and therefore the chrome horn bar and backing 'plate') and did not touch the horn ring on the column which appears to be working OK: I can push it and the horn will activate. It seems that the backing 'plate' which secures the chrome horn bar to the wheel touches the horn ring as I tighten up the steering wheel nut. I'll certainly check the rubber 'bumpers': I don't recall seeing those at all!

Yes, the refurb seems to be really good (bar this problem which is probably nothing to do with it). Steering Wheel restorations in Ramsgate (Paul) who did it has two moulds, one for early wheels and a grooved one for later ones. Cost was c£300. Tel 01843 844962.