1940 Deluxe 6 Coupe. There is a twin horn under the hood, but the center of the steering wheel is solid. Can anyone tell me how the horn would have been activated?
The '40 Deluxe (model 40 and all) has a horn button in the steering wheel center just as you'd expect. Why yours isn't functional needs to be determined. It sounds as though it may have been altered in a way that prevents it from being depressed (now [i]there's[/i] something I could use) or it 's just "broken/stuck" for lack of better terms. Does it move at all?
There should be a wire from the wheel center that passes down through the hollow steering shaft, proceeding through a connector then up to the horn relay. It's common for that wire's insulation to have worn/abraded through so that the horn blows by itself.....which it will do whether the ignition system is energized or not. have a look.
F
You're sure that the steering wheel you have, is a Hudson wheel, and not something else (like from a motorboat) that got installed sometime during the car's past?
Quite sure it is the original column, and what should be the horn button has the Hudson emblem. As suggested it must be jammed down and the spring shot. Don't know if there is a doable fix.
Car is at a shop now so can't easily look at it, but it does look like the manual.
James,
There's always a fix. We'll help you find it.
Frank
It looks like the horn button is pounded down into the column.
Looks to me as though the mechanism/contacts under the button are removed. I'm pretty sure the button won't go that far down if they're in there.
F.
If this button is like others of that era, the way to remove it is to push on it, then give it a twist to the right or left (which unlocks it), then remove it. Since the spring is broken or gone, try to wedge it out by sticking a piece of thin rigid plastic (like an old credit card) or cardboard, into the slot around the perimeter, and prying it out. This might work better if you have TWO thin wedges at opposite sides of the button; it won't go lopsided, that way. If it doesn't come out, then try rotating it left or right with the two wedges, as you lift. At some point it will be freed from its retainers, and come out. Then you can ascertain exactly what parts are missing.
Jim I do have a new horn button for a 1940 Hudson. Ron
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