Fixed the horn
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Fixed the horn
Recently, the horn on my '69 wouldn't work once the engine warmed up and heated up the engine compartment.
So, I worked on looking for bad wire connections, bad relay, etc.
I'd spend a hour or so every once in a while, but couldn't find anything wrong.
Then, I was reading about rag joints and how the original ones had a grounding ribbon across them. I did replace mine 15 yrs ago. Not sure if it was a GM, NOS, or replacement. Either way, it worked for almost 15 yrs. I decided to run a ground wire jumper across the rag joint. I found a old braided cable with soldered on metal ends that was the perfect length.
Today, the hot horn worked.
So, just a FYI, if you're having intermittent horn problems, check out your rag joint. Why it worked for almost 15 yrs them quit, I have no idea.
So, I worked on looking for bad wire connections, bad relay, etc.
I'd spend a hour or so every once in a while, but couldn't find anything wrong.
Then, I was reading about rag joints and how the original ones had a grounding ribbon across them. I did replace mine 15 yrs ago. Not sure if it was a GM, NOS, or replacement. Either way, it worked for almost 15 yrs. I decided to run a ground wire jumper across the rag joint. I found a old braided cable with soldered on metal ends that was the perfect length.
Today, the hot horn worked.
So, just a FYI, if you're having intermittent horn problems, check out your rag joint. Why it worked for almost 15 yrs them quit, I have no idea.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The fiber disc in the stock Chevy ragjoint was made with metal mesh in it. That metal would conduct to both sides of the joint and acted as electrical ground for the horn. Glad you found the cause of your problem.
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 990
From: Spokane, WA
My old rag was worn with a tear in the disc by one of the bolt holes and also the thin soild ground strap was broken, but the disc did not appear to have any mesh.
Replacement option 1 is my rebuilt rag with a new mesh-less disc, but with a new ground strap added.
Option 2 is a used rag in very good condition I bought from E-bay that has the mesh, but does not have the ground strap. I do have a new ground strap for this also, but to install it, I'd have to drill out one of the riveted posts and replace that with one bolted-on post from another rebuild kit (I'd leave the other riveted post unmolested).
Which would you all recommend for me to try first?
Paul
Last edited by nwav8tor; Feb 1, 2021 at 09:00 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I would choose an original GM joint...IF the disc was in good condition (pliable and not beginning to crumble)....because the quality of the metals and materials used is SOOOO much better than what is being sold in the aftermarket. Just add a braided copper grounding wire which is connected to metal on both sides and to steering and box shafts.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I'd go option 1, if you can get a good disc.
Option 2, I would not drill out anything.
I used a mesh strap from ???? that I bolted under both cinch bolts on the rag joint.
If you're real industrious or bored, you could drill and tap both sides of the joint and jumper it this way.
Option 2, I would not drill out anything.
I used a mesh strap from ???? that I bolted under both cinch bolts on the rag joint.
If you're real industrious or bored, you could drill and tap both sides of the joint and jumper it this way.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
Hi Paul
The 63-71 rags were grounded by a beryllium copper strap between the pieces. They didn't last long, most times worn thin and broke. In 1972 they replaced the strap design with the mesh impregnated on one side of the material. It worked well and would stick you in the finger if you touched it on the side. The rags were made by Saginaw and also an aftermarket one by Tom Reina who owned Corvette Steering. Tom supplied high quality rags and supplied LICS among many others. GM sold them for $50 up til 10 years ago. Now one is easily $300 sometimes more and sometimes less. The current rags are not close to the quality of the GM/Saginaw or Tom Reina's. Any that are ripped are no good. If too dried out they will soon rip as well. If the column is collapsed the rag will form an "S" bend where it has to be flat once installed.
The best are still the NOS GM or Tom Reina's. Several vendors were going to save the world and get them made the past few years but all found out the material is gone and to get it made would be an expensive deal, so the imported ones are on the market today.
The 63-71 rags were grounded by a beryllium copper strap between the pieces. They didn't last long, most times worn thin and broke. In 1972 they replaced the strap design with the mesh impregnated on one side of the material. It worked well and would stick you in the finger if you touched it on the side. The rags were made by Saginaw and also an aftermarket one by Tom Reina who owned Corvette Steering. Tom supplied high quality rags and supplied LICS among many others. GM sold them for $50 up til 10 years ago. Now one is easily $300 sometimes more and sometimes less. The current rags are not close to the quality of the GM/Saginaw or Tom Reina's. Any that are ripped are no good. If too dried out they will soon rip as well. If the column is collapsed the rag will form an "S" bend where it has to be flat once installed.
The best are still the NOS GM or Tom Reina's. Several vendors were going to save the world and get them made the past few years but all found out the material is gone and to get it made would be an expensive deal, so the imported ones are on the market today.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Old Fart Pilot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 990
From: Spokane, WA
Thanks guys.
I guess I'll use the good GM rag with the mesh and see how it works grounding wise without the ground strap. If needed, I can then rig up some sort of braided wire connection between the pieces to improve the ground. I'll keep the rebuilt one with the beryllium copper strap as a back-up if I should live long enough to ever need a replacement...
I guess I'll use the good GM rag with the mesh and see how it works grounding wise without the ground strap. If needed, I can then rig up some sort of braided wire connection between the pieces to improve the ground. I'll keep the rebuilt one with the beryllium copper strap as a back-up if I should live long enough to ever need a replacement...