Is there an 850 horn contact repair kit yet?

Discussion in 'Volvo 850' started by Doug Warner, Aug 7, 2003.

  1. Doug Warner

    Doug Warner Guest

    Well, after honking my horn at one of Atlanta's many mobile idiots
    today, my 94 850 succumbed to the dreaded crumbling horn contact
    failure:
    http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/HornContact.jpg

    Left: The one that sounded the horn until I pulled the fuse.
    Right: What it looks like with all the plastic gone, The tip is 2mm
    thick, and the supporting ring underneath was 2mm as well, producing a
    total 4mm protrusion above the bracket surface.


    I could see that a whole steering wheel would be the only factory
    fix..

    Still, where there's a will (and cheapness), there's a way:

    First try:
    Machine screw, insulating washers, shrink tubing:
    http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/HornContact2.jpg
    Still, it didn't seem too durable, and I didn't have enough washers.

    Second try: Some plastic rod stock and my old lathe:
    http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/HornContact1.jpg
    Original contact insulator on left, my version on right.
    The original has some plating on the tip. There's no tarnish, so I
    doubt it's silver. Any ideas what metal it is?


    With ready made screw-based contacts and the plastic parts, this
    would be an easy & cheap fix, The ring terminals can be easily pulled
    off the original contacts and they fit nicely around the screws. Is
    Volvo or anyone else currently selling repair kits?

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    Doug Warner, Aug 7, 2003
    #1
  2. Doug Warner

    Doug Warner Guest


    And, one of the four restored contacts. I coated them with silver
    solder.
    http://webpages.charter.net/dwarner2/DSCN0159.JPG
    Horn works fine now.
    About 5 hours work, including trial & error "sculpting" of the plastic
    parts.

    To reply, please remove one letter from each side of "@"
    Spammers are vermin. Please kill them.
     
    Doug Warner, Aug 7, 2003
    #2
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