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MG MGB Technical - Mota Lita horn connection

Sorry if this has been asked answered before, but I've searched the BBS and archives and can't find anything that answers my question.

I've just purchased a second-hand Moto Lita wheel & boss for my '72 BGT to replace the cracked Mountney one. The problem is that I can't see how to install the horn pencil & contact ring with the Mota Lita wheel. On the Mountney the connector ring screwed to the back of the boss, but although the Moto Lita boss has the hole for the contact pencil there doesn't appear to be a way to attach the contact ring. The wheel I purchased was originally fitted to a '73 car which I believe uses the same steering column as the '72 models.

Any suggestions, advice or tips please!

BTW, if anybody is toying with which wheel to fit, I can confirm that the Moto Lita is way superior to the Mountney. Although they are both 14" leather rims, the Moto Lita is more comfortable and offers a better grip. It is a more substantial overall build too.
Mike BGT

The motolita I have on my '71 doesn't use the pencil connector. The wheel's boss has a copper slip ring on the back of it which contacts the spring contact on the indicator switch. A thin wire connects this slip ring to the horn button via a tiny screw and nut. I have always loved the MotoLita leather wheel - a joy to hold, and although I have sold the '71, I have kept the wheel for use on the '69 when it is finished.

Mike
Mike Howlett

That's what's missing Mike, the copper slip ring. How do you manage to stop the wire from snapping without using the pencil connector?
Mike BGT

The copper slip ring is a permanent part of the wheel boss and turns with the wheel, keeping contact with the spring contact on the switch assembly. Because the ring turns, and the horn button turns, the wire doesn't flex at all. The wheel is off the car at the moment, so I'll try to remember to take a photo for you.

I suspect that your wheel is of a different construction. Maybe they changed the design, or the boss may not be for an MGB.

Mike
Mike Howlett

There are several different MGb versions of the Moto Lita wheel so be sure you have the correct one for your application. My early '71 took the '70 model wheel to fit the shaft, but the horn connection was wrong. I simply wired the horn into the overdrive switch.
Jeff
Jeff Schlemmer

Mike,
I emailed the seller of the Moto Lita wheel who fortunately still had the contact ring although it had become detached from the boss. It arrived this morning and I have reattached it to the boss with some hot-melt glue, re-soldered the push button connector and all now works as it should. I've managed to do away with the pecil adaptor altogether.

Thanks for your help all.
Mike BGT

My Moto-Lita has both the slip ring on the back of the boss as well as the pencil thingy. Don't really see why that is needed, as the switch and the spring for the horn button are sealed inside. Incidentally mine exhibits some resistance, which together with more resistance to ground in the collapsible steering column meant there wasn't enough oomph to drive one let alone two standard horns, so someone had fitted something which looked like it came off a moped! I considered putting a ground strap on the column, but the horn resistance was higher, and the switch was held together with those spire clips on plastic pegs so I wasn't about to try and lever them off. I settled for a relay, which works fine.
Paul Hunt 2

I agree Paul - the horn really needs a relay, especially when both horns are working. With no relay, mine sounded like a strangled chicken, or only one horn would work.
Mike Howlett

It's a lovely steering wheel, but I couldn't get the horn push sorted either. In the end I got a second hand horn/stalk assembly and used that.

Quite easy to fit, small bit of soldering, thats all.

Liam
Liam

This thread was discussed between 15/08/2006 and 17/08/2006

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