Steering earth

[Gazz]

No, not steering the Earth.
I have seen the the strap pictured as what appears to be an earth continuity around the doughnut on the steering column yet it doesn't appear on the realoem parts fiche.
My question is - is it necessary? And if yes, why?

 

[Mike Goble]

It provides a ground path for the horn button.

 

[Mike Goble]

It seems as though there was a spring used for this purpose as well. If you look at the various diagrams of the coupling this spring appears in different poses.

 

[Gazz]

Thanks Mike. Yes I see the spring in the diagrams now - part # 32311110814. The two ends span the UV joint. There are two wires for the horn button so I assumed that one would be an earth, which would make the strap redundant. I saw the strap in a renovation post, so when I found one in my parts I realised that I didn't have it attached. My car isn't finished, although very close, and I bought it totally disassembled so I have never had the horn working in any configuration - earth strap, spring or earth wire. Oh the joy and despair of discovery!

I have a few parts left over - I wonder if Dr. Frankenstein said the same thing?