[T3] On that 73 T-3 horn

[William J]

I wanted to add I drive the car a bit ago and the horn works with the engine 
running which makes no sense .

 The battery puts out 45 AH was is fully charged. Even with the charger 
connected and on just key on the horn didn't work . The generator spinning 
at idle speed the horn works . When I tested the horn at the horn it was 1 
volt less than battery voltage and I grounded the other horn wire to the 
bumper and it was loud . I doubt the horn draws much current . I realize 
battery AH is . I suppose the added resistance in the horn contacts is over 
come enough by the amps the generator puts out even at idle.

 I checked across the fuses for a voltage drop on the horn fuse and get the 
same reading both sides yet didn't check with the horn activated yet the 
voltage drop is at the ground side of the horn. I should see no voltage on 
the horn ground wire at the switch yet I do see a few volts.

 With the key on engine off  the gen and oil lamp and dual brake warning are 
on and the fuel pump has timed out , when I try the horn those lights dim .
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "William J" <catnine09 at dslextreme.com>
To: <type3 at vwtype3.org>
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2017 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: [T3] On that 73 T-3 horn


> Thank you Jim :
>
> I  will look into what I can use to fix the contact . Both the ring and 
> wiper look to be brass .
>
> I  did a search and ran across some posts that lead  to Samba . One was on 
> a thing which has the same steering wheel my 73 has and I think super 
> beetle . Point is I saw the ring and T/S wiper in the photo's posted . I 
> could see mine wheel on with a small mirror and flash light looking 
> through the gap.
>
> I was trying to find out why the horn would only work with the engine 
> running and found the wiper had the small hole and decided to wrap 500 
> grit wet paper over the end on a small metal 6" ruler just to polish the 
> ring and the contact then wiped the ring with blue shop towels which may 
> have been the wrong thing to do. I lubed the ring a while back because I 
> could hear a slight scraping noise used the black molly grease with 
> graphite . I have Bosch point grease.
>
> I'm not sure how the wiper is attached to the T/S switch . I see new ones 
> being sold yet the photo's are so small I can't tell . I thought if it's 
> similar to the one I saved from the 72 T-3 which has 2 full wipers and are 
> fixed to plastic pins melted over for insulating reasons replacing the 
> wiper might be a fail . I would need to fit something to it .
>
> If the area around that hole is not to thin perhaps I can fit a small hard 
> metal contact similar to ignition points just thinner . At least the wiper 
> is wider than the ring .
>
> I know I can get a switch if it comes to that . I don't like the idea of 
> pulling the wiper switch since I have no idea if it will have cracked 
> plastic areas like both switchs do on the 72 spare.
>
>  I didn't realize the 4 way was pot metal until after you mentioned it . I 
> just put the contacts against wood and the back against soft wood to hold 
> the loose fiber plate down and used a wide screw driver and a small hammer 
> and gave each one a tap . It was loose and seemed like it might come apart 
> sooner or later.  The spare I have from the 72 was lose on one side yet I 
> didn't use it because it was a bit different , no resister and one extra 
> contact yet it did have a light inside the knob . Perhaps it lights up 
> brighter or has a resister inside.
>
> I don't have the tool to tighten the switches , I use a small set on 
> needle nose with short tips and just set it on the deep part of the 
> aluminum retainer screw cap.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim Adney" <jadney at vwtype3.org>
> To: <type3 at vwtype3.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2017 8:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [T3] On that 73 T-3 horn
>
>
>> On 12 Nov 2017 at 22:15, William J wrote:
>>
>>> Jim what would you use to lube the horn contact and slip ring ?
>>
>> There is special electrical contact grease, loaded with graphite, that 
>> would
>> probably be the best choice, but anything would be better than nothing.
>>
>> The key is to fix the worn contact spring before things grab and destroy
>> much larger parts. The contact ring on the underside of the wheel is also
>> replaceable and might even be available from the dealers, as I suspect it
>> was also used on Beetles (and I think I've seen references to it on BMWs, 
>> so
>> it may have been a common German approach in that era.)
>>
>> Up to '70 VW did things completely differently. The ground path was
>> complex and confusing, but it didn't have this problem. It had its own
>> problems, but they didn't lead to destruction and they could all be 
>> fixed.
>>
>> -- 
>> *******************************
>> Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
>> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
>> *******************************
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> VWType3.Org mailing list - type3 at vwtype3.org
>> To unsubscribe or change subscription options, visit:
>> http://lists.vwtype3.org/listinfo.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org
>> If you need more help, contact: gregm at vwtype3.org
>>
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> VWType3.Org mailing list - type3 at vwtype3.org
> To unsubscribe or change subscription options, visit:
> http://lists.vwtype3.org/listinfo.cgi/type3-vwtype3.org
> If you need more help, contact: gregm at vwtype3.org
>