Nailing a 911 together (no need for duct tape) - ie cheap turn indicator fix

[Winter]

Hello everyone, I've been trading some PM's with bcgreen who is battling a turn signal issue, trying to get his signal to "click" off after being activated. Here's a fix I posted about another thread, but didn't really do the whole write up. Since bcgreen has been asking questions about my rather unorthodox fix, I thought I'd share the solution.

Why? Because sharing is caring. And also because maybe someone can tell us how to fix this the non-cancelling turn signal issue without my "fix" (which while effective, is definitely not "factory standard" LOL!)

First, the wheel that I'm working with. It's a 3 spoke one, that was on my 75 targa when I acquired it. Here's the back of it, without the horn and cancelling ring.:



Now we have to install the horn ring and our nail "fix". The horn ring looks like this, and is attached to the wheel with three small phillips head screws.








The nails also need to be prepared, you'll want three of them, about this long, and small enough to fit thought the vacant holes on the horn ring (the holes that are not being used by the phillips screws to attach the ring to the wheel). I cut the end of the nails off, then used a file to round them a bit - technical stuff I know, but attention to detail is what a true Pelican is all about.



Once you have your phillips screws, horn ring and nails ready, attach everything together, with the heads of the nails between the wheel and the ring, so you end up having it look like this:








Then you mount your wheel back on and tighten everything down. For reference, here is what the turn signal cancelling tab looks like inside the clamshell when your steering wheel has been removed:



Here is what it looks like when you activate the turn signal stalk:



The nails hit the turn signal tab inside the clamshell, thus allowing your stalk to return to "cancel mode".

This repair has worked great on my car for a few years now. However, it's obviously not a "factory" solution and you need to be very careful that your nails don't rip into wires or other important things inside your clamshell. You also probably should be smarter and more talented than I am, and be able to figure out how to make your turn signal cancel using the correct parts. But, if you're like me, and just want to get the damn thing to work and run out of patience, then nails are cheap and this is a fast solution that seems to work well. Your luck may vary, though and I take no responsibility for this "fix" ruining your car or causing you emotional anguish if something goes wrong.

Cheers!

[bcgreen]

Sure wish that were my problem, but my turn signal tab inside the clamshell is too short for the nail thingy to work. This is with the turn signal on.

[SchnellSchweitz]

Great write up!!! I'm just now chasing down a turn signal that keeps blowing fuses, but I may also need this in the future.

[Winter]

Bcgreen - I hope that someone here will post a solution, but you may be looking at a new turn signal switch. Post a want to buy ad in the classifieds here.

Or, if you are like me, buy some JB weld plastic epoxy and try to add some length to yours. It seems strange to me that that part would be so worn that it no longer works or that it snapped off somehow.

Hopefully one of the experts can chime in and offer some insights.

Good luck with it. I really hoped the nail trick would help you out.

[RSBob]

Absolutely ingenious and creative solution. It may be non-standard but what the heck it works and is invisible. Nice work.

[930cabman]

It appears we are having the same issue with our '75 911S. I found an original steering wheel, put everything together and turn signals do not cancel. It looks like the "tang" that would trip the turn signal button is not long enough. The horn contact ring lands correct, but the "tang" is not long enough? The cancelling ring I have has a VW logo imprinted into it. Pelican does not offer the cancelling ring.

Is adding nails the preferred solution?

[PCA7GGR]

930cabman - you are correct, the tang isn't long enough. Both the mid-'70s 914 and 911 used similar horn/signal cancel rings used, But the 911 tang is about 1/4 longer.

The 914 ring:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Porsche-911-steering-wheel-indicator-cancel-horn-ring-91134709905-H4/153449841164?epid=1250052801&hash=item23ba52c20c:g:r7EAAOSwJ5RbK5-o

The 911 ring:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Porsche-911-steering-wheel-indicator-cancel-horn-ring-91134709905-H4/153449841164?epid=1250052801&hash=item23ba52c20c:g:r7EAAOSwJ5RbK5-o

To use the 914 one, which is more available, two nails, one each side of the shorter tang, will also suffice.

My hat is off to "Cheers" for his McGuyver solution.

And keep in mind that little boy chocolate bunnies have just a bit more chocolate - ;>)

[930cabman]

Serg,

Thank you for the info. I may attempt to add on to the existing short tang with a short piece of PVC pipe adhered with JB Weld.

The "nail" fix is kinda rough, but may be the best way