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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Live Horn?

Just been fitting an electric fan to my wife's Midge, when I accidentally touched the horn body with my screwdriver (which was earthed to the body) I was given a shower of sparks and the horn sounded! I got out my tester and it seems that the whole body of both horns is live. I have looked at the wiring diagram and have sussed that the stalk button earths to sound the horn but surely the whole body of the horn shouldn't be live? It's just waiting to short out on something.

Cheers
John
John Payne

That is exactly why the flange of the horn uses shouldered plastic washers to insulate it from the body. What happens if you switch the purple lead to the other terminal?
David "horning in again" Lieb
David Lieb

Not tried that David but but yes the flange of the body has plastic around it. I take it this is ok then?
John Payne

Yup, perfectly normal. Now that I think on it, the fact that the horns sounded when you grounded the case is a good thing. I rather thnk that reversing the leads would tend to lead to a situation wherein you would still get sparks, but no noise... rather better to have the load involved...
David "leave it alone and don't listen to that other David" Lieb
David Lieb

Thanks David.
John Payne

to go alog with this thread, if you use an aftermarket steering wheel from moss..(tourist trophy), you will need to get a piece of hard platic and put under the spring of the horn cap, or else the horn will randomly come on and stay on while driving...so embarresing...(and aggresivly threating to other drivers, as you pass them) ....thats how swiss cheese is made... just hold out a soild block of cheese and let the highway drivers do the rest. lol

prop
Prop

This thread was discussed between 23/03/2008 and 24/03/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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