I know this is dumb but...... How do you remove a Deluxe horn ring from a '48 steering wheel? Usually you just press both sides down at the same time and turn the ring slightly to release it from the retaining clips. This wheel it doesn't work on. Anybody have any experience that might be helpful. It is a mint Deluxe, (full round) ring and I don't want to lose it. Thanks guys!
Just the '48 wheel, using it on my roadster. It is a Deluxe, 1948. This is the standard Ford wheel with the full horn ring.
If the wheel is off get someone to hold the wheel while you turn the horn ring, I just recently removed a 50 Ford horn ring and it come off as you described. HRP
Yes, one person to depress the button and keep it down, another to rotate. The problem is that there is a rubber ring in there that over the years has vulcanized wheel and ring together. Wear gloves and keep the turning pressure right where the spokes join the center button...go an inch out and the horn ring spokes are going to break. Buy a new rubber ring and wax everything it touches so it doesn't all stick again.
Duecemac and Bruce are on it! Funny story and the reason I know about this. Had a '42 Ford Coupe for a while and every so often when turning the steering wheel, the horn would blow. So one day I decide it's time to fix it, if only I can get the horn ring off! Trying to be gentle because I don't want to muck something up and I can't seem to figure it out. Along comes one of my girls young playmates and asks what I'm doing. I answer and admit that I'm struggling a bit and he says, "what if you turn it?" Felt kinda dumb and relieved at the same time. When working on older stuff, Think Simple! Carp, out.
Some WD-40 has helped me loosen things up in the past. Work the horn button/ring after spraying some in there.
I was able to get it apart intact! It removed just as we thought. But when it was opened I discovered someone had used what looks like gasket compound to secure the ring in. That sucker was really glued together. I compressed the ring with a C clamp and some wood blocks and then gently tapped the ring with a small deadblow hammer until the bond was broken.
Next step is to clean this goop out, repair the wheel and spray it in white epoxy. Then I'll "smoke" it, a style I haven't seen in a while and shoot with several coats of clear epoxy to preserve the smoking.
All cleaned and working properly. Comes off easily now with no damage. Tomorrow night I can repair and prime. Thanks guys!
Mine looked the same way when I took the horn ring off. It was almost like the horn button cushion had melted. How do you get the horn button insert out of the ring (without damaging it)?
The Jalopy Journal
