Does anyone know how the steering column was grounded originally? No ground, no horn. :( The previous owner's solution was to install a separate dual horn with a dedicated button screwed to the roof of the cab. :)
Since the bottom of the steering column has a rubber damper between itself and the steering gear, the only potential metal-to-metal contact is a ball bearing at the top. I say "potential" because the bearing appears insulated since I don't get any connectivity between its inner and outer rings. I am starting to wonder if there was a factory installed wire to ground the connector plate on the steering wheel itself.
Interesting, I am noticed the original horn is extremely sensitive to the voltage drop. It seems 30 OM resistance on the horn circuit is enough to start affecting the sound. I am yet to figure out what else is causing the 0.5V drop in the circuit in addition to the bad ground.
Any help is appreciated!
1971 D200 steering column grounding
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- dodgeboykim
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
Horn should be grounded through wheel down column. Maybe ground strap at rubber doughnut/isolator at bottom of column is missing.
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
That's exactly what I thought! Do you know what gauge wire it was? Seems like 12 gauge should be plenty.
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
That would work.
- my5thmopar
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
Maybe thats whats wrong with mine too. How about a picture of what your talking about. This same on a 64?dodgeboykim wrote:Horn should be grounded through wheel down column. Maybe ground strap at rubber doughnut/isolator at bottom of column is missing.
1964 D100 Utiline
2019 Ram Classic
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viewtopic.php?f=34&t=40251
2019 Ram Classic
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- dodgeboykim
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
I do not have a picture, But where the rag joint is they have a connector to ground from the upper column to lower part into steering box. They were probably a funny looking flat metal doodad that joined through the bolts. Wire will also work. Sometimes they break and sometimes their tossed because owner has no idea what its for. I know someone that did that on his 69 Barracuda and couldn't figure out why horn did not work.
- my5thmopar
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Re: 1971 D200 steering column grounding
Are you're saying to connect the steering column tube to a good ground. I would have thought the tube was grounded through the dash where it is bolted to. Maybe thats not a good enough ground. Time to get the ohm meter out. Thanks DKBdodgeboykim wrote:I do not have a picture, But where the rag joint is they have a connector to ground from the upper column to lower part into steering box. They were probably a funny looking flat metal doodad that joined through the bolts. Wire will also work. Sometimes they break and sometimes their tossed because owner has no idea what its for. I know someone that did that on his 69 Barracuda and couldn't figure out why horn did not work.
1964 D100 Utiline
2019 Ram Classic
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=36025&hilit=build
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=40251
2019 Ram Classic
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=36025&hilit=build
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=40251