Horn Button Removal from Steering Column

I have a bad feeling that the whole assembly has to disconnected at the bottom of the steering shaft and pulled out from the top. I say bad feeling because I would like to rechrome the light & gas switches in the steering hub and I do not believe I can pull those out with the body on the car.

Here is a pic that Mark asked me to post plus some others...

Victor, am I correct in assuming the only way to disassemble the horn button & level mechanism is at the steering box? So the shafts need to come all the way out of the tube in order to get the levers off? I would like to rechrome mine but do not believe I have the clearance to pull the shafts all the way out without hitting the roof.

Hi A.J.: I haven't even worked in my car yet, but I asume you are correct and they only come up because I have seen it in other cars. I had a Mark VI Bentley in which I was lucky that the car had a sunroof! Now... you don't want to chrome the full tube but only the lever. Perhaps only letting the tubes free from the bottom of the column will free them enough to come out a bit and maybe, just maybe, you can remove the chrome lever in that position and then put it back on when rechromed. At least you would be sitting comfortably in your seat while trying.I am attaching a pic of Pier Marta's reproductions, in case they are useful, but I believe the show that at least in the case of the small one, you might be able to succeed in removing it without having to take the whole car appart. I suspect the larger unit will also lend itself to being removed. As I always say, parts were not born there! Sorry I cannot be of much help.... but I do have a manual reproduction I got from ebay at home that I can check tonight and let you know if it mentions anything on servicing those parts.Best of lucks.v

This would probably explain why my levers still have their factory finish (mostly worn off) on them. Too bad when the top & interior was being done they didn't re-chrome the levers.

My steering column is disconnected . Today I measured the length it is 55 inches long from bottom of the shaft to the horn button . There is 1 wire coming out of the the bottom . According to Joe A the wire is for the horn . 26 inches from the horn button down the shaft . There is a copper piece about 1 inch long that goes around the shaft and has splines sticking out . I assume it makes some sort of electrical connection ? For what I do not know .

Is the spline for the headlight switch?

I do not know if it is for the head light switch , because there is no wires coming out of the shaft . That I could see . If you go back to my 8 - 31 dash picture it shows a L for lights ? C for choke , S for what ? and H for heat on the manifold by the fire wall .

Could it be there to stop slap of the shaft in the column tube when going over bumps ?

More on removing the button:

To remove the horn button, you need to pull out the middle ring section in the steering wheel, which will come out with a long rod. Once that is removed, there is a snap-ring under the steel ring part. Once that snap-ring is removed, the horn button and insides should be able to be removed.

I am 99% sure the tubes have to come all of the way out of the steering column. I disagree with Victor about removing and installing the knobs while still in the steering column. I found it to be difficult even on the work bench! You could try to unbolt the steering box from the frame and try lying it down a bit. You might also have to remove the front seat or move it toward the back. It might be worth the try.

Well, I wish I had taken the time to look at this when this discussion began. The only wire that goes up through the steering column is for the horn button. The two levers are attached to tubes, one inside the other. One is for the light switch (head lights and and fender lights , different settings) and the other is for a throttle set up. the actual head lite switch is attached to the bottom end of the steering column. It is a weird set-up but a little arm fits around the tube for the headlight switch and then is attached to the switch, the other tube (for the throttle) also has a little attachment at the end and attaches to a rocker ( located on a lower middle bolt for the water side cover) which connects to the assembly that connects the foot feed to the carb. Clear as mud? Ask Victor to take pictures of the rocker assembly and its arms (that I let him have).

Pictures from Victor.