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1957-59 Horn Contact Ring
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Skelly1958
Posted 2022-03-15 12:24 AM (#620237)
Subject: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring


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I'm working on adding power steering to my '58 Plymouth and I'm preparing the steering wheel.

The problem I've run into is with the horn contact ring. In the attached photo you can see the rubber insert or grommet has deteriorated and crumbled off. Has anyone had any luck with a replacement grommet or some other method to keep it from grounding to the steering wheel? I see lots of them on ebay for '60 to '62 that are very similar. Has anyone tried one of them for a '57 to '59 application with any success or found it's just too different to work?

As a last resort, if I try to fabricate something, can anyone tell me how thick the rubber part should be?





(57-59 PS Horn Contact Ring (3).jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments 57-59 PS Horn Contact Ring (3).jpg (144KB - 109 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2022-03-15 2:37 AM (#620238 - in reply to #620237)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring



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From what I can see in Section 8-33-121 of the 55-58 Mopar Parts catalogue, the PN for the 56-57 horn contact ring with 18 gauge wire is 1642 310
whereas the 57-58 ring with 14 gauge wire is 1819 841.

The one in your photo looks like the one on my 56 Dodge (with power steering) (see below). The rough dimensions are 3.125" outside diameter and 1.25" inside (the rubber) diameter. I can get you better measurements tomorrow if that helps. The ring is held to the steering wheel by the cancellation ring (at least in 1956)



My 56 Dodge stuff:



REFERENCES:

1. http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=69539&...
2. http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=75319&...



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ronbo97
Posted 2022-03-15 10:49 AM (#620242 - in reply to #620238)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring


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Any contact ring from 55-59 will work. There are three different part numbers associated with this ring during that period. That is due to the gauge of the wire changing. The problem with the 18 gauge wire is that it broke way too easily. The 14 gauge wire ring is the best.

The rubber insulator is critical for the contact ring to work. The problem is that the thin rubber gets brittle and breaks off. The thickness of the rubber is critical to the operation, as is the slot that the metal contact ring fits into. Also note that the insulator is glued in place. So trying to remove one from a junk steering wheel without shattering it, is difficult.

The rubber insulator is a much-needed part would be an excellent candidate for reproduction, as it is used on all Mopars 55 thru 59. The one used for 60 and later is different.

Ron



Edited by ronbo97 2022-03-15 10:50 AM
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56D500boy
Posted 2022-03-15 11:14 AM (#620243 - in reply to #620238)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring



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56D500boy - 2022-03-14 11:37 PM
The one in your photo looks like the one on my 56 Dodge (with power steering). The rough dimensions are 3.125" outside diameter and 1.25" inside (the rubber) diameter. I can get you better measurements tomorrow if that helps. The ring is held to the steering wheel by the cancellation ring (at least in 1956)


Some more precise measurements (with a digital micrometer)

OD of the brass plate 3 13/64" (81.31 mm)

OD of the rubber ring 1 49/64" (44.84 mm)

Center hub OD = 1 1/4" (31.87 mm)

Ron's suggestion would be the later 1819 841 ring with the 14 gauge wire (or just replace the 18 gauge with your own stranded 14 gauge).

This 1972 250 looks like it would be close (but it wasn't the PN in 1959 (which was still 1819 841)):

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/234186729292?epid=1929810009&hash=item36869d...



Edited by 56D500boy 2022-03-15 11:15 AM
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ronbo97
Posted 2022-03-15 5:19 PM (#620258 - in reply to #620243)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring


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The 55-6 variety has a 16ga wire. 14ga is the best choice. I'm using the 59 variety on my 55 Desoto.

Ron

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Skelly1958
Posted 2022-03-15 10:30 PM (#620265 - in reply to #620237)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring


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Thanks for your responses Dave and Ron.

Dave, the part number you provided matches what I found in the parts book. Thanks for the photos of your contact ring. The '58 also uses the cancelling finger to hold it in place, it's just a little different style. I don't have a caliper handy but your dimensions are pretty much the same as what I measured with a ruler.

Ron, thanks for the additional information. It's good to know the '55-56' is also the same other than the wire gauge. I didn't realize they were glued to the wheel. The rubber on the one I have was deteriorated so it came right off the junk wheel I found it on after I removed the cancelling finger. I agree, it would be great if someone with the resources would reproduce the rubber grommet.

Dave, the ring you found on Ebay looks much closer the '58 - '59 and is different than the ones I saw for the '60 - '62s. I found part# 197 2208. From the photos attached, you can see it's quite a bit different. and the rubber covers much more area on the top. I found a photo of the bottom side of the part number you found, 197 2250 and it's the same, narrower rubber as the top side. In one of the listings, they're saying it's 3-1/4" OD, only 1/16" larger than what I measured on mine. I'm wondering with this one if the main difference is the connector, 1819 841 has a bullet connector and 197 2250 has a female spade connector. I'm not a big gambler but I'm tempted to order a 197 2250 so I can do a real comparison.

The last thing I was thinking about was fabricating a 3 piece insulating ring as shown in the attached drawing. The center piece would fit the inside diameter of the ring and protrude through each side with a "washer" enclosing the center piece and bonding them together. I'm wondering if plastic would be a suitable material as it would be easier to turn in the lathe and still have insulating properties. The missing piece of the puzzle is how thick the material has to be.



(1972208 Top.jpg)



(1972208 Bottom.jpg)



(1972250 Bottom B.jpg)



(Grommet Drawing A.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments 1972208 Top.jpg (160KB - 101 downloads)
Attachments 1972208 Bottom.jpg (178KB - 105 downloads)
Attachments 1972250 Bottom B.jpg (149KB - 106 downloads)
Attachments Grommet Drawing A.jpg (119KB - 106 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2022-03-15 11:09 PM (#620270 - in reply to #620265)
Subject: RE: 1957-59 Horn Contact Ring



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I think that the 1972 250 shows promise:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/324821297271?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%...

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