MCJ Steering wheel

[Doppio]

Hi everyone,
I need some help again.....after hankering after a MCJ steering wheel for as many years as I've owned a camper I finally handed over the wedge to get a beautiful Rose wood rim. It is stunning and finishes things off perfectly. The only trouble is the standard wheel I removed had two wires...I presume a positive and negative. The MCJ wheel only has provision for one...with nowhere to attach or run the second. I attached one wire and fitted the wheel and upon testing it worked. Great I thought except when I came to use it and started to turn the wheel the horn came on and would only turn off when I turned the ignition off. Please can someone help? I can't find any images or guidance on what or where you should run the second wire. When I disconnected the old wheel I carefully prised off the contact ring and attached it to the new wheel and it seemed to fit well to the new wheel. I can't wait to use the new wheel and feel frustratingly close but stuck at this point. Any help would be extremely welcome.
Many thanks,
Martin.

[ELVIS]

Do they sell different types/T3 specific? The bay ones only have one terminal as they earth through the OE wire at the bottom of the column.

[Doppio]

Hi there,
Yeah, you're right they do; but this was ordered specifically for a T25 so I assumed I was doing something wrong but it is exactly as you've described- it's as if it's supposed to earth through the column.
I'll email MCJ and ask them if it's been made wrong or they've sent the wrong one.
Many thanks.

[ELVIS]

Just reread this and thought about it a bit.

I cant see why it wouldnt work without a single wire as obvs its still going to earth through the steering column. The oe wheel only has the second wire due to the wheel being composite. The MCJ ones obvs are all metal centre so negates the need for second wire. Make sense?

The fact that it worked when you turned the wheel (ok, i know it shouldnt off ) shows it has the potential to do what its meant to- just needs a fettle.

Maybe take the centre out (i presume the found the fiddly little grub screw in the side?) and check the horn push is seated correctly/squarely?

Good luck chap

[Doppio]

Hi there,
Many thanks for your reply...I really appreciate you spending the time to give it some thought...yeah you're right it would make sense to earth itself....so only one wire required, but everything seemed to fit together very nicely so I'm not sure what is going on.
One other thing...I disconnected the wire from the back of the horn push so no wires were attached. I started the ignition and attempted to use it without a horn but as soon as I turned the wheel with the engine running.... the same happened again..the horn started and wouldn't turn off....!!

[ELVIS]

when you say disconnected, did you wrap it in tape to insulate it ? If it was just tucked inside it would no doubt be touching something metal in there as its one piece billet.

Think there is one i can take apart tomorrow on a bay to get it straight in my mind how it works and how it might work on a T3.

[silverbullet]

The slip ring on the standard wheel is live and fed from the contact on the column. This supplies current to the horn push, which then is grounded and so makes the circuit when you smack the wheel and swear at the moron who has cut you up etc.
Does this wheel boss have an insulated slip ring on the back as per the VW wheel?

Ich fahre einen Bulli. Ich hilfe mir selbst...meistens!

[Doppio]

Hi there, many thanks for your replies, MCJ have very kindly got in touch today and they made a very good suggestion, which I've yet to look into. They suggested that if the brass ring on the underside of the wheel is not seated in the right place, the sprung contact may have become dislodged as I turned the wheel and instead of contacting with the brass ring, is now in contact with the wheel mount, hence completing the circuit and sounding the horn.
I will try and investigate tomorrow eve, but it sounds very plausible.
Thanks again for all your help and advice; I'll let you know how I get on.
Martin.