M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

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jim4164
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M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by jim4164 » June 27th, 2018, 1:42 pm

The black rubber part of my horn button has broken off and I have the new replacement assembly with its cable. I need the steps to follow to remove the old cable and install the new one. The cable passes down through the steering column and comes straight out through the center of a square plate on the steering gear box held in place by 4 bolts. The cable passes through a rubber? seal that prevents the steering gear fluid from escaping. If I simply pull the cable back out of the steering column I suspect oil will leak out and it will be impossible to put the new cable through that seal. So I guess I'll need to remove the square plate (and catch the drained 80/90 gear oil) so I can get the new cable down the steering column and through the seal in the plate. OK so far? are there any other places in the steering column or steering box where it will be difficult to remove the old cable or install the new one?
M151A1
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m75
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Re: M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by m75 » June 27th, 2018, 4:23 pm

Paragraph 5-73 (Horn Switch Maintenance) of 9-2320-218-20-1 has the detailed removal/installation information for the horn switch.

If you don't have the TM, it is available free here under "G838 Manuals" at the top of this site page.

Way too many times I have over-thought a particular issue, only to have the relatively simple explanation presented to me buried in the TMs. Hard to accept that I was a vehicle operator, and not a school-trained 63B wheel vehicle mechanic, in spite of all of the short-cuts I've learned over the years.
Jim Peterson
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1961 M151 -Sold
1974 M151A2, Working It!

fowlercal
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Re: M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by fowlercal » June 27th, 2018, 10:42 pm

Jim4164,

The short answer is, the plastic grommet on the bottom end of the steering gear only protects the horn wire. It is not an oil seal. Pop it out with a flat screwdriver or paint scraper. Tie a small wire or string to the end of the disconnected horn wire, and pull it out from the steering wheel. Tie the wire or string to the new horn wire and pull it back through. Thread the horn grommet back on the horn wire and push it back in. The horn wire hole runs all the way through the steering gear. Get to it, it’s easy.

Cal

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m3a1
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Re: M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by m3a1 » June 28th, 2018, 1:36 pm

You can see a few photos of this business on my thread - just a little way down the page

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=10252&start=60

The little plastic bit is chiefly there to keep road dust and whatnot from blowing up into the passage. It actually goes quite deeply into the tube and acts as something of an insulator so the wire doesn't rattle around in there. It can be a bit tough to remove when the need arises, particularly if it is already damaged. What you don't want is that passage to be allowed trap and hold dirt and moisture.

I'm sure you'll find it's a very straightforward job.

Cheers,
TJ

jim4164
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Re: M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by jim4164 » June 28th, 2018, 3:10 pm

Thanks for the great horn repair tips. Should be a piece of cake.
M151A1
BRP Can-Am Outlander 650
Jensen Healey 2.2
MB ML430
MB GL450
Grumman 15 & 17
Giant Dirt Bikes
Gone: 356A, TR4, Saab Turbo, ++
Missed: 901, Shelby Mustang, 300SL, Ford GT

jim4164
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Location: Huntington Beach, CA

Re: M151 Horn Button Assembly Replacement

Unread post by jim4164 » June 30th, 2018, 12:49 pm

Easy! I followed fowlercal's simple instructions and now all's well with the horn. The button mechanism doesn't want to go deeply enough into the steering wheel hub to allow the snap ring to settle into its groove so I'll just save the ring, in case. The horn works fine without the ring. Thanks again for the helpful replies.
M151A1
BRP Can-Am Outlander 650
Jensen Healey 2.2
MB ML430
MB GL450
Grumman 15 & 17
Giant Dirt Bikes
Gone: 356A, TR4, Saab Turbo, ++
Missed: 901, Shelby Mustang, 300SL, Ford GT

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