Horn doesn't work **** W/ Solution!******

[jbeebe]

For some reason my horn is giving me such a hard time haha.

I'm trying to get it working.

It's getting 12V of power.

I think the handlebar button just connects the ground of it, when I push the button I get about 0.7V across the horn's terminals. I tried connecting the horn's ground terminal straight to the frame with an extra wire, and still nothing.

Does it have to be the horn itself? I mean, it's getting power, and I grounded the heck out of it straight to the frame...i'm no electrical expert, but it seems like something has to be wrong with the horn itself.

I took it apart but the 1920's technology stumped me. Everything looked ok I suppose.


Any one else want to spend a few minutes devoting brain power towards this so I can take a break? Thanks!

I'll also include a random picture to motivate people to respond, everyone hates threads without pics....

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

Re: A horn....how difficult could it be?

Is this for a car or a motorcycle? Assuming motorcycle, as this is a motorcycle forum.

Is this for an Amercan motorcycle, a Japanese motorcycle, or a European Motorcycle?

Does the horn have 2 terminals or one?

Since you said it has 12V, can we assume it is a 12V horn?

Is it made by the motorcycle mfg, or is it after market?

How about a little more info on what you are working on...A picture would help of the problematic horn.

Remember, you can remove the horn, use a battery at your workbench and test to see if it beeps. If the horn doesn't beep when you manually apply power, then it will never beep no matter how hard you push the button.

 

[jbeebe]

Re: A horn....how difficult could it be?

It's for the 81 kz440 in my sig, I shoulda' mentioned it.

Good idea about just hooking it up straight to the battery.

It just has two spade connectors.

I just didn't know if these old horns even ever go bad or not.

 

[Redbird]

Re: A horn....how difficult could it be?

Yes, they go bad.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

A horn....how difficult could it be?

There is usually a small screw stocking up on the back. Of you power it up and no beep, try adjusting the screw. Try loose first, then slowly tighten. Don't over tighten. There is a set of contacts in the horn that cause it to vibrate. The screw ( should have a lock nut) adjusts the points for best sound


Sent from planet Earth using mysterious electronic devices and Tapatalk

 

[Wahoo650]

Re: A horn....how difficult could it be?

If it proves to be the horn, let me know- think I have an old one stashed somewhere you can have.

Matt

 

[jbeebe]

Re: A horn....how difficult could it be?

Solved:

I got a new horn and put it on...still no beep. "dang" I thought.

So i took apart the switch housing again and took out the internals. I stared at it for another 10 minutes and had an epiphany....

Only one ground wire is coming into the housing....that means it grounds on the housing itself! and therefore, on the handlebars. Well don't ya know, my handlebars are painted black!

A few minutes to sand down a little section under the housing and bingo-bango, she goes beep.

Ps: thanks anyway wahoo, I saw your post too late and bought one at AutoZone for 15 bucko's. They have universal disc style horns that are pretty much identical to ours