Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hi Guys,
I have tried searching this site but have not been able to come up with an exploded parts view for the banjo steering wheel. There was an excellent photo a short while back for the standard wheel but the banjo unit is different. I am certain I am missing some parts and am desperately seeking help to remedy my horn problem. On my wheel ('39 Six) there is a double nut securing the wheel to the shaft. (a tensioning nut and then a lock nut on top of that.) There is a nonconductive thin plastic washer on top of the 2 nuts and then the 6 volt horn 'nipple' with a small spring under it. I never had the 'sprocket wheel' spring before and have procured one of those from John Ulrich Packard. I fashioned a foam disc for the horn ring and have also ordered a small 'can' from Packard Don. What I need to know is the order all this stuff goes in and what else I am missing??? Right now, if I put the horn ring in place and then place the sprocket spring over the contact nipple and try and put the thing back together, the horn just beeps willy-nilly and if I leave the spring out, then no horn??? Any help and guidance here much appreciated. Chris.

Edited and pictures added.

The banjo on my 37 is as follows:

Also no puller needed. Or perhaps my shaft is worn.

There is a shaft spring, then the steering wheel, then the main nut whixh is female on the shaft side and male on the button side, followed by a metal dish like cup, and then the 2nd nut. The large spring the sits in the cup.

The large spring presses on the plastic on the back of the horn button.

The center of the horn button has metal finger disc which the horn wire attached to. Pressing the button pushes the metal fingers down touching that second nut, completing the path to ground.







I hate fishing the horn wire up and down the steering shaft. So I always cut it and use an insulated bullet connector. Then it's 100% easier to pull the steering wheel. I've done this on both my cars.

Let me know if you need anything clearer picture.

Thanks for the reply, instructions and pictures Kev. I take it there is no horn ring with your banjo wheel?? Definitely looks different than mine. I will take some pics and post to see if you can identify what I have/don't have. I do NOT have the male/female nut you describe and my plastic outer horn button has a concave copper cup pressed into the back of it. That is what makes contact with the nipple on the end of the horn wire and completes to ground. The chrome horn ring fulcrums on 3 pivot points on the steering wheel and has to be spring-loaded somehow.
I thought the little star spring I purchased from John Ulrich might provide that spring tension but it doesn't seem robust enough. Chris.

I know the design changed. No horn ring on 37. I have a horn ring on my 54, which does make it far easier to toot the horn without taking one hand off the wheel to do so.

Hopefully someone else with a later car can provide more detail.

Hey Kev, here are a couple of pics of my setup. The ones of the wheel itself turned out a bit blurry and the battery died in my camera so am recharging as I write this and will post some better pics of that. In the meantime, if anyone else who has played with one of these has any info or pics, I'd sure appreciate it if they's chime in.... Thanks in advance. Chris

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I was able to get a couple of better shots of the steering wheel showing the double nut and the nipple on the end of the horn wire with the little spring underneath it. The nonconductive fibre washer isolates the wire fitting from ground and the center horn button with it's copper concave dome completes the circuit. Can anybody tell me what I'm missing in terms of parts or maybe I have the 'sprocket spring in the wrong way/place??? Sure appreciate anyone's know-how here. Chris

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The little can goes on top of all that with the wire through it, then the star contact above that but I don't recall the exact details of how the ground circuit is completed when the horn is pressed. The insulator washer keeps the wire from touching ground (if intact) but after that, I'm afraid I don't recall. My main 1940 110, the one I drove to California when I moved here in 1972, was my only prewar Packard with the banjo wheel and it's been too long since I had it apart.

Hi Don, thanks for weighing in. Yes, I agree the little 'can' would go over the contact nipple. It has a '2-stage' hole in it that would allow it to be installed without removing the horn wire but I'm not sure what purpose it serves? The nonconductive washer would go on top of the can between it and the wire end-contact and that renders the assembly pretty much the same as it is now - unless there is a big spring that goes underneath the can??? Need a photo or a good drawing. Chris.