Early steering wheel and horn internals
- Thread starter RDS
- Start date
MikeHynes
True Classic
Sorry I'm a bit late to the thread.
As far as I know there were at least three different styles of horn buttons/steering wheels for the X - at least here in the states.
All of the '74s I've had had this style horn button on a black 4 spoked wheel. The contact for the horn button is riveted in three places on the wheel.
These had a two piece, hard, horn button that had one large diameter spring that fit over the nut that held the wheel on.
The next type had a soft horn button (safety?), of several styles. This type used two small springs held in place outboard of the nut that attaches the wheel to the shaft. On this style the contact for the horn button is attached below the nut that holds the steering wheel on. I'm not sure when these were used. Some wheels had silver painted spokes, some black.
Here is the horn this type horn button disassembled (only one of the two small springs shown).
The last style (that I know of) just happens to be my fav. the leather Bertone 3 spoke.
This wheel has a self contained plastic "button that fits into the wheel. The leather cover that claps onto the 3 spokes is pressed down to activate the horn.
BTW - There were a couple of different rim coverings for the 4 spoke wheels, some in black (pic above showing two soft buttons), others in red! Not sure if there were any other colors of leather.
As far as I know there were at least three different styles of horn buttons/steering wheels for the X - at least here in the states.
All of the '74s I've had had this style horn button on a black 4 spoked wheel. The contact for the horn button is riveted in three places on the wheel.
These had a two piece, hard, horn button that had one large diameter spring that fit over the nut that held the wheel on.
The next type had a soft horn button (safety?), of several styles. This type used two small springs held in place outboard of the nut that attaches the wheel to the shaft. On this style the contact for the horn button is attached below the nut that holds the steering wheel on. I'm not sure when these were used. Some wheels had silver painted spokes, some black.
Here is the horn this type horn button disassembled (only one of the two small springs shown).
The last style (that I know of) just happens to be my fav. the leather Bertone 3 spoke.
This wheel has a self contained plastic "button that fits into the wheel. The leather cover that claps onto the 3 spokes is pressed down to activate the horn.
BTW - There were a couple of different rim coverings for the 4 spoke wheels, some in black (pic above showing two soft buttons), others in red! Not sure if there were any other colors of leather.
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many thanks for the measurement.
If the other questions are addressed to me, mine is an '87 model, I have the "bland" three spoke "b" steering wheel, I do not know if leather or vynil. Shifter knob is a wooden pommel with the bertone logo, rectangular gear shift boot, padded roof and the same seat/door card arrangement (but different colour) as per ics19 photograph above.
yes, thanks Jefco, i have been away from the computer and unable to answer hitherto. Your understanding of my situation is correct.
Mike, not late at all! Many many thanks for putting together that comprehensive catalogue of possible steering wheels - the reference in that alone is worth pinning in my opinion.Sorry I'm a bit late to the thread.
As far as I know there were at least three different styles of horn buttons/steering wheels for the X - at least here in the states.
All of the '74s I've had had this style horn button on a black 4 spoked wheel. The contact for the horn button is riveted in three places on place on the wheel.
View attachment 81484View attachment 81485View attachment 81486
These had a two piece, hard, horn button that had one large diameter spring that fit over the nut that held the wheel on.
The next type had a soft horn button (safety?), of several styles. This type used two small springs held in place outboard of the nut that attaches the wheel to the shaft. On this style the contact for the horn button is attached below the nut that holds the steering wheel on. I'm not sure when these were used. Some wheels had silver painted spokes, some black.
View attachment 81493View attachment 81476View attachment 81480View attachment 81481View attachment 81482
Here is the horn this type horn button disassembled (only one of the two small springs shown).
View attachment 81487
The last style (that I know of) just happens to be my fav. the leather Bertone 3 spoke.
View attachment 81492View attachment 81490View attachment 81488View attachment 81489
This wheel has a self contained plastic "button that fits into the wheel. The leather cover that claps onto the 3 spokes is pressed down to activate the horn.
BTW - There were a couple of different rim coverings for the 4 spoke wheels, some in black (pic above showing two soft buttons), others in red! Not sure if there were any other colors of leather.
Can anyone tell me what conversion works eg extra rings, spring, contactors, connectors etc are needed to convert the three spoke design to the "two spring" four spoke wheel that is the penultimate set of photographs in Mike's post? I have to travel to the car you see, and knowing in advance does help me, especially before disassembly.
cheers
RDS
Jefco
daily driven if I drive daily
Having seen the 'three spoke' design years ago in an IPD catalog, I did a little more research to verify my (admittedly poor) memory, and find it's an Italvolanti wheel. It was also available in a 4-spoke model. Whether the two makes share shaft/splines is doubtful.
RDS, you should not need any conversion parts, they should be interchangable, just have all the horn button parts.
Any hardware store spring that fits the well and is long enough should work.
RDS, you should not need any conversion parts, they should be interchangable, just have all the horn button parts.
Any hardware store spring that fits the well and is long enough should work.
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Update: I take it ALL back. I have seen the light.....almost.
Steering wheel nut was peened over in two places but easily dealt with by a little drilling and the 24mm nut then wheel came off with minimal use of impact driver and left/right and top/bottom wiggling.
With the annoying "bland" cover removed, a nice three spoke wheel is revealed, or at least it would be if there were a stylish horn push cover to go over the revealed centre. Anyone know of one that is a direct fit? you never know, I might actually fit that instead!
Steering wheel nut was peened over in two places but easily dealt with by a little drilling and the 24mm nut then wheel came off with minimal use of impact driver and left/right and top/bottom wiggling.
With the annoying "bland" cover removed, a nice three spoke wheel is revealed, or at least it would be if there were a stylish horn push cover to go over the revealed centre. Anyone know of one that is a direct fit? you never know, I might actually fit that instead!
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Jefco
daily driven if I drive daily
It would work to check fit if you have / can borrow one - design is another choice; my car came with a Ferrari-ish button in the Momo wheel.
I had an artist friend alter it into a black unicorn, and tilted it as though it were charging instead of rearing.
Lots of Momo buttons available.
nice idea Jeff: pop a photograph onto the thread; Unicorns are quite rare after all!.
I attach a photograph of the later wheel with the earlier centre push. To fit it needs alteration. It isn't bad, except for the rotten italicised squares design and the wheel does have a much more premium feel that the earlier one. so my earlier disregard for it is perhaps misplaced.
Also, here are the wheels side by side: the earlier one projects 10mm more than the later.
I attach a photograph of the later wheel with the earlier centre push. To fit it needs alteration. It isn't bad, except for the rotten italicised squares design and the wheel does have a much more premium feel that the earlier one. so my earlier disregard for it is perhaps misplaced.
Also, here are the wheels side by side: the earlier one projects 10mm more than the later.
