Dan Babb Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 My horn never worked. I took it apart tonight to see if there was anything loose inside. I found one wire that came loose when I touched it, so I replaced that wire and I soldered it. I read another post that said something about cleaning contacts...but no other details. What are the contacts and how do I clean them? Here's a picture of what I'm looking at. Is there any way to test the horn out with a multi-meter to see if it's in working order? There's an adjustment screw that comes through the backside of the horn...how close should that be to contact on the inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 On the left side of your picture there is a triangle shapped piece with 2 rivets at one end and one on the other. The single rivet is holding the contact you need to clean. Then hook it to your battery charger and see if it honks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Roberts Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 If you have one of those old metal finger nail files , that will file your points . make sure that the points are clean too . Sometimes when testing the horn directly on your battery the voltage will be a little higher then when hooked up in your vehicle . So you might have to adjust the points twice . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 I got it to work...but it sounds more like a loud buzzer than a horn. Is that what it's supposed to sound like? In had it connected to a 12v battery charger. Sounded the same at the 2amp and 10amp setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Did you reassemble the horn before you tested it? If you tested it as pictured it would sound like a buzzer. The trumpet bell is what gives it the horn noise. It is was all together try adjusting the tone screw and see what happens. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 I put it all back together. The horn just makes it sound like a louder buzzer. There are two adjustment studs on the back. Neither really seemed to change it much. If I tighten the outer one too much, it stops it from vibrating at all. I will go take a video and post it in a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Here's a short video..it's a pretty faithful reproduction of the sound. http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/DanBabb/53Dodge/?action=view¤t=DSCF2797.mp4 How does this compare to your horn? I looked at the diaphragm when I put it back together and it doesn't appear to have any cracks in it. The underside has a little tab that sticks out...it points down toward the single rivet on the triangle piece in the picture at the top of this post. Is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Yep, that thar's a buzzer. If ya ever catch an episode of M*A*S*H when one of the M37 ambulances lays on the horn, that's purty close to what it should sound like. I recall a thin paper gasket on either side of the vibrator; I think this isolates the vibrator from the horn bell so that there's a slight ringing that amplifies out the bell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 I don't have a gasket in there now....will it help at all? I really want to use the stock horn (since it works), so if that sound is correct, then I'll keep it. Just wanted to make sure it's not busted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBNeal Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 (edited) that buzzing noise is the metal-on-metal sound as the vibrator plate rattles between the trumpet bell and the vibrator. With a thin paper perimeter gasket between the bell & the vibrator plate and between the vibrator & the vibrator plate, the plate becomes isolated and can produce a ringing noise. If ya play the drums, it's the difference between a closed high-hat and an open high-hat. Edited January 3, 2011 by JBNeal added video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 I didn't know about the gasket thing either. Sounds plausable. I also wonder if clamping the bell in the vice doesn't effect the tone. The horn is normally iso-mounted. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Elder Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 To get the proper amount of amps running through the horn shouldn't you use the horn relay to test it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted January 3, 2011 Report Share Posted January 3, 2011 Frankie I think you are onto something. He should use the battery in the car to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 I made gaskets for the horn and put them in. I also fiddled around with the tone adjustment stud (the one to the outside) and it sounds a lot better now. I think the gasket did help isolated the diaphragm, so it's able to move a bit freer and doesn't vibrate the horn, so I don't get that buzzing sound. Thanks for the tip. I don't really know what that adjustment stud in the center does. Fiddling with that didn't seem to change the sound at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggdad1951 Posted January 7, 2011 Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 this made me tear into my horn last night as well...cleaning it today and getting the horn bell powder coated Monday. What dd you use for the paper gaskets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Babb Posted January 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 I went to the auto parts store and bought a package of gasket paper that they sell. It was around $8 or $9 for a roll of it. It's that blue paper that looks like what water pump gaskets are made out of. It's a bit thicker than what you need, but everything fit once I bolted it back together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipebomb Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 i just fixed mine yesterday- all it needed was taking apart, cleaning the contact points with some 220 grit paper, some di-electric grease for the contacts and re-assembly. the paper gasket was good on mine, so didnt need to fix that. Also, if you are testing it, dont use a battery charger- it doesnt have enough current for it. i tried it after and it sounded the same, just a weak buzzing sound. hooked it up to the battery and WHOA!!! sucker is loud !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950 Special Deluxe Posted November 14, 2015 Report Share Posted November 14, 2015 (edited) I am trying to fix up 1 of these horns and I have it apart, but I am getting a dead short across it when I energize. Not sure where the paper gaskets go? It looks just like the previous pictures. I will keep poking around and post updates. Thanks for now Neil Checked the coil, it appears ok. Checked the wire wound resistor, it also appears ok. Will do some more research and tackle it again tomorrow or Sunday. Neil Edited November 14, 2015 by 1950 Special Deluxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950 Special Deluxe Posted November 15, 2015 Report Share Posted November 15, 2015 Did some more tinkering with the horn this morning. Ooooops, realized that trumpet part needs to be on to depress the vibrator. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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