Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-24-2013, 07:52 PM   #1
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Horn Issues

Have two horn issues.1st...the horn goes on while driving without touching the steering wheel button. It stays on for awhile and then goes off and continues to cycle on and off. It just started doing this. The horn sounds every time the horn button is pushed. My thought is that the problem is in the switch because the wires in the horn are secure and none are close to the housing. Any ideas on how to test or fix the switch? 2nd....the horn doesn't go "ahooga" it gust goes "ga". Any thoughts?
Ray in Illinois
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2013, 09:42 PM   #2
whirnot
Senior Member
 
whirnot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bend Or.
Posts: 1,053
Default Re: Horn Issues

It's possible the horn wire to the switch is grounding somewhere, as the horn has constant power and sounds when the ground circuit is completed. as far as the sound, it probably just needs a good cleaning, adjusting and oiling. A quick search will give you the steps to do that.
__________________
Bill Worden

1929 Roadster
1929 Briggs Town Sedan
1930 Closed Cab pickup
Smith Motor Compressor
1951 Ford F1

High Desert Model A's
whirnot is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-24-2013, 10:23 PM   #3
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Re: Horn Issues

Thanks Bill. I will pursue both thoughts & look at Les Andrews procedure.
Ray
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 07:38 AM   #4
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Re: Horn Issues

Coupe thanks for your ideas. I am making some progress. I found a name on the bell base...it is a Stwart Warner....I tested the wire from the horn rod end to the button with a continuity tester and it tested good as I pressed the horn button. Also cleaned the commutator and brushes and adjusted the horn sound and I get a little better Ahooga sound. I still have a problem....pressing the horn button doesn't sound the horn but when I shake the harness wiring at the base of the switch the horn sounds. I will do some more testing of the wires. Thanks again.
Ray in Illinois
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 08:23 AM   #5
Ray in La Mesa
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: La Mesa Ca
Posts: 1,157
Default Re: Horn Issues

The switch plate that the wires are attached to has the center spring mounted contact that rises above the brass dimples and goes into the top 1/2 of the switch is the horn contact.Sometimes that contact wobbles and makes side contact with the upper plate, that can be the cause of the intermitant honking. Also, on repro harnesses the spring contact is some times too large of a diameter so must be filed down to the diameter of the spring. Once the contact is the right diameter I put a piece of shrink tubing around the spring & contact, leaving the soldered contact surface open to meet the end of the horn rod. Good luck.
Ray in La Mesa is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 12:09 PM   #6
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Re: Horn Issues

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Thanks Ray. I will do what you suggest to eliminate the grounding when shaking the the harness wire. I found that the button didn't sound the horn because contact is not being made between the lower spring contact and the upper rod contact. Any ideas to bring these two contacts together? Thanks again.

Ray in Illinois
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 12:27 PM   #7
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Horn Issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by solidirish View Post
Thanks Ray. I will do what you suggest to eliminate the grounding when shaking the the harness wire. I found that the button didn't sound the horn because contact is not being made between the lower spring contact and the upper rod contact. Any ideas to bring these two contacts together? Thanks again.

Ray in Illinois
Someone may have installed the wrong length horn rod.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 05:12 PM   #8
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Horn Issues Solved

Thanks everyone for your replies. Issues solved. Lower spring contact end was not as original but filing it a little and adding a little black tape arround end and stretching spring a little was all I needed to make contact with horn rod contact and also prevents spring and end to contact nearby ground which had caused horn to sound on its own.

Ray in Illinois
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 08:34 PM   #9
smurph
Senior Member
 
smurph's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Posts: 102
Default Re: Horn Issues

I had a similar problem. Made an extension for the horn rod by attaching a "gizmo" made of brass foil folded like an accordion to the end of the horn rod. Problem solved. Make sure the only contact is with the horn rod tip and the light switch button. Other contacts will create a ground and sound the horn .
Good luck,
Smurph
smurph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-26-2013, 09:03 PM   #10
solidirish
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 30
Default Re: Horn Issues

I also noticed when I had a firm connection between the horn rod tip and switch contact there was a much louder and much better "Ahooooga" sound. Great to have the horn working again because the neigborhood kids love the sound and always yell for it as I go buy.

Ray in Illinois
solidirish is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:01 AM.