Horn problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Reggie3cl
  • Start date Start date
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Reggie3cl

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Yes, yes, I know, wot do you expect riding a 120..? :D

Seriously though, I have to MOT my bike at the end of the week and I have a problem with the horns on my RGS.

When they just dangle by their wires they work fine, but once I bolt them on to the bike they still work but are very muted.  The circuit seems fine and they are getting their full 12V, but what the hell could just bolting them on be doing to cause this problem? 

Also, they seem to be OK when the engine is running. :o

 
Try swaping the wires round on the horn, should not in theory make a differance but worth a pop. You should also make sure you have a good path to earth through the handlebar switch.

    Keith
 
Tried that, also ran a loose wire from the horn terminal to a separate earth so as to bypass the switch- same result. 
 
I had problems for bloody years with mine...until I asked Keith to have a butchers when he was sorting other more important things...i think it was an earth, but Keith can confirm? Suffice to say I could never find anything, and they have never been louder now Keith has sorted.. :D
nick7
 
Wierd thing is that if I just put the horn bracket on the mounting bolt loosely it's fine- nip it up and phweep
 
Makes you break wind?

Have you tried screwing and unscrewing the Phillips screw under the white paint?
 
Give them a good squit of WD40 and work the diaphragm back and forth for a bit, might just be a bit dirty and lazy.

Hey, did you know that Ozzy Osbournes first job was as a horn tuner at the Lucas ??



  Keith.
 
I've got three horns, one off the BMW and two brand new after market ones all in working order.  All do the same- Parp big time when dangling, peeep when bolted up (but are loud if in contact with the chassis but not bolted up)

I'm sure they're not supposed to be permanently live as is the Laverda way, but it is only a circuit innit?  

I'm going to go out to the shed to contemplate this over a beer (Black Sheep natch).
 
Aaah, Sheep done good. :D

Turns out the whole horn has to be able to vibrate- I was using pretty solid brackets (I think the Beemer horn must be rubber mounted).  Held one horn with a hefty bracket with a pair of pliers and peeep peeep, change to a springier one, and hey presto, PAARP.

Blimey, who'd a thought it?
 
Got to be on leaved sprung steel brackets, they will break a solid bracket in no time.

Got my RGS horn rubber mounted up under the fairing.

I can send a picture of my horn mounted if you like.......... parp  :D



              Keith.
 
laverdakeith said:
Got to be on leaved sprung steel brackets, they will break a solid bracket in no time.
SNIP
               Keith.
Click to expand...

I can't even remember how many of those leafed sprung steel horn mounting brackets i have had break, but they do last a little bit longer than the solid ones....

Paul LeClair
 
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/High-Power-Stebel-Magnum-Twin-Electric-Horn-Kit-139dB-/400196559058?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d2d92e0d2

Put your originals away and buy a set of these things. They're really really loud and cheap to boot. They even look half original which I suppose is because they're Italian.

Cheers
 
Viagra in case of horn or rubber problems.
Click to expand...

You're the doctor!

Have a Magnum on my GS.  I actually just used a hi/lo pair from Halfords which are compact and actually make a really pleasing noise.  Anyway, all sorted now, thanks all.
 
On the recent trip we did to the National Laverda Rally, I went to beep at some dozy driver who changed lanes into my path, but all I got from the horns was a barely audible bleat. I thought "bugger - another job for when I get home".

Well I've been home for a week and I finally got around to having a look. One horn was totally mute and the other was doing a feeble wheezy little croak. I went to unplug the cables to take the horns off, and the spade connectors were all really loose. I crimped the female connectors up with pliers so they were tight, plugged 'em back in and pressed the button. The bike was up on the hoist and I had my head right in front of the horns. My ears are still bleeding from noise that came out of them. If I'd known it was sush a simple 30-second fix, I would have done it on the side of the road on the way to Sydney, instead of waiting 2,500km until I got home.

I reckon the vibration of the horns on their flexible mounts wears out the spade connectors. So if anyone is getting a less than satisfactory racket from their horns, check those first.

Cheers,
Cam
 
My spade connectors fell off after approx 250 miles! Pressed the button and same thing - little squeek from one horn.
I gave the connectors a good squeeze and so far they have stayed put.

The neighbours are started to look a me a bit funny now, it is was like a mortuary around here 'til the Jota turned up - lots of horn blaring and deep rumbles when she starts up.
At least the kids get out of the road before I get there, they line up and stare at the beast as it rumbles past ('The beast' is now the unofficial name for the bike).
I have worked out that I can freewheel all the way to the bottom of our road before starting-up next to a field in the morning. The cows are slowly getting used to it.

SimonR
 
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