I have an Astrali steering wheel, which has served me well. However, I have changed to steering column switches and thought that it would make life easier if I fitted a centre horn push. All I'd have to do was get a new hub kit from Astrali - but they went bust 2 weeks ago!

So I decided to change the whole thing for a Mountney wheel and hub - tried to fit the hub this evening, and the casting is so poor that it won't slide onto the steering column! Also, the notch where the indicator cancellation thing fits is so poorly formed that there's no way it'll sit properly. Finally, to cap it all, it seems that I need bits of a Sierra wheel to make the horn work - and I don't have one.

I didn't have great expectations - it's their basic wheel after all - but I did expect the hub to fit... the Astrali wheel and hub was cheaper, but it fits perfectly in all respects. It also works with the steering lock, and is collapsible on impact (the Mountney isn't).

So tomorrow, it's going to a phone call to the supplier (Merlin) - it's not their fault, but they'd better say the right words or I'll be seriously peeved. After that, it looks like I'll be fitting a separate horn button.

Buggerit...

David

As I remember, a centre push horn is earth switched and a stalk horn is positive switched, the difference being that the former needs two wires to the horn (and for it not to be earthed to the chassis)

Buy a steering wheel off ebay, I got a nice intervolanti wheel complete with a snap-off kit for £62. Perfect fit and removable for ease of getting in and security

ATB

John

Apparently I need the slip-ring fitting off a Sierra wheel. I suppose I can live with that bit of extra faffing around - it's the fact that the hub just doesn't fit that pees me off...

DJ

[Edited on 31/3/05 by David Jenkins]

David

Your not alone,my mountney boss was a dreadfull fit and i had to do a fair bit of filing to get the indicators to work properly too.

Astrali boss kit

Would this do the job???????????

OMP do a great quaddro wheel with a centre push horn - this with a MOMO boss (which comes complete with conductive ring) and you're sorted for less than £62. If only I could remember where from - oh yes, RaLlYnUtS!!!! Brilliant service too!!!

I've just looked and the prices have rocketted so ignore my previous pricing!

[Edited on 1-4-05 by Hellfire]

Been there, done that!

I have had 2 mountney bosses. The 1st of which was exellent. Casting was good horn ring included etc. Unfortunatley I got a little carried away tightening it up and managed to crack it. This was replaced free of charge but the new one was exactly as you describe.
I have just taken the ign barrel off mine and put the horn on a seperate switch (and just binned the horn ring you need).
Even when you have the sierra part, it is a very poor fit and the horn doesn't always work. If I were you I would send it back and get a different wheel.

Ben.

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnN
Astrali boss kit

Would this do the job???????????

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ben Smith
Been there, done that!

I have had 2 mountney bosses. The 1st of which was exellent. Casting was good horn ring included etc. Unfortunatley I got a little carried away tightening it up and managed to crack it. This was replaced free of charge but the new one was exactly as you describe.
I have just taken the ign barrel off mine and put the horn on a seperate switch (and just binned the horn ring you need).
Even when you have the sierra part, it is a very poor fit and the horn doesn't always work. If I were you I would send it back and get a different wheel.

Ben.

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Spoke to Merlin Autosports - bloke got quite grumpy, but will do a refund.

He also said that they've supplied hundred of these without problems (see above comments from just a few users!) and also "these hubs are only £17" (i.e. "what do you expect for that money" ).

The Sale of Goods Act expression "fitness for purpose" came to mind, but I refrained from mentioning that - but it will be quoted in the letter that will be included in the return package...

DJ

[Edited on 1/4/05 by David Jenkins]

just to add another semi unhappy customer; I fitted my moutney boss/wheel the other day to the sierra column. Apart from snapping one of the lugs off the column (need to araldite it back ) i thought it was a terrible fit and the horn push mechanism looked dire, i may well change the wheel as i have a boss to suit a momo wheel, but don't know if it's any better quality..

Ned.

mountney boss on mine is A1 just to even things up a bit

My mountney boss is rubbish too. No problems with the horn push or indicator self cancelling but the 'teeth' for the steering lock are absolutely useless. The casting was very rough and didn't fit onto the column properly either.

Cheers,
Matt.

Our Mountney boss was crap too, so we asked for a Momo instead for not much more £. The guy said that the quality wouldn't be much better - How wrong he was!!

My mountney boss and wheel have been on and off several times, the fit is fine, the self cancelling indicators are fine and the horn works fine. (must replace the actual horn, it sounds like a scooter!)

Just to help even things out a bit

Another bundle of fun to be had is when the wheel gets really wet the horn blows and blows and blows.

Ian

quote:

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Originally posted by robinbastd
Another bundle of fun to be had is when the wheel gets really wet the horn blows and blows and blows.

Ian

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Got my mountney boss from Europa spares - I don't think it cost that much though!

agreed casting is poor but mine fits fine and works properly with the steering lock and the indicators.

Horn is a little crappy - just feels really cheap

The slip ring had to be removed from the old sierra wheel.

A sticky horny is easily overrided with a hidden button somewhere.
After all it is safer not to have one, then to have one continous, surely.