The Ford Barn

Robbie Horn · 01-14-2023, 06:31 AM

Original 6 volt hooked up straight to the battery. Motor spins slow & sometimes stops & won't start back on it's own unless you push start it. Got the adjustment screw backed all the way off so motor can free spin. Put some 3 & 1 oil on the felt pads & that didn't help. With adjustment screw turned it to make it ahooga it spins slow & won't ahooga but sounds like a sick duck. Brushes look good & I have a new set coming to see if that helps. Anyone have any ideas?

jack wingard · 01-14-2023, 07:20 AM

Make sure it spins free, no drag, with your finger. I would disassemble. inspect and clean because it probably needs that anyways. I'm sure there's videos and articles also.
Let us know your solution.

updraught · 01-14-2023, 07:22 AM

Time to convert to 12 volts.

jw hash · 01-14-2023, 07:49 AM

replace the brushes and springs sometimes the springs lose their tension. I just had one do the same thing.

rotorwrench · 01-14-2023, 11:26 AM

The brushes & springs are the easy things first. Not much joy if that doesn't do the trick. The fields have to provide good magnetism and the armature has to be able to react to the magnetic forces. If a field coil is cross shorting due to insulation break down the the filed will be weak. If the armature windings have insulation break down or are shorting then it won't react well. It only takes one open winding in an armature to make for weak reaction. All of this can be checked with a growler and an Ohm meter.

Fields can be rewound and armatures can be repaired. There is at least one person still doing this stuff. A person can rewind their own fields if they get the correct magnet wire. There are also instructions for this out there.
http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-conte...ooguh-horn.pdf

alexiskai · 01-14-2023, 11:34 AM

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I did a video showing basic disassembly and cleaning. Anyone can do it. That’d be the first step I’d recommend.

https://youtu.be/dvDl_6bDaJY

LEM · 01-14-2023, 12:31 PM

This is a very good horn repair video.
https://youtu.be/80HheWrv2_s

nkaminar · 01-14-2023, 12:58 PM

Rotorwrench has a good thought. Test resistance of windings and test for shorts to ground.

DHZIEMAN · 01-19-2023, 09:31 AM

A klaxon can draw up to 15 amps at 6 volts! Using the formula that puts the resistance in the .4 to .5 ohm range! you can also Connect an ammeter in series with the horn direct and disconnected from the car and check amp draw! Low amp draw and horn not working would indicate high resistance some place in the horn. In looking at the picture the commutator looks good but how are the brushes and brush springs? If the horn functions well on a bench test, that leaves the cars horn button circuit and wiring as a possible issue

grj · 01-19-2023, 09:40 AM

Saw this at Hershey many years ago. Club member had a several original horns on his table. Some were labeled 12V. Asked why. Said they did not sound well on 6V. Cheers.

Robbie Horn · 01-20-2023, 10:02 PM

I found a collapsed spring behind one of the brushes. I stretched it out & put it back in & it works fine. I have a new set of brushes & springs on order for it. Thanks for all the help!!!

Ted Duke · 01-21-2023, 11:57 AM

Check your grounds

01-14-2023, 07:20 AM	#2
jack wingard Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stoneboro PA Posts: 120	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Make sure it spins free, no drag, with your finger. I would disassemble. inspect and clean because it probably needs that anyways. I'm sure there's videos and articles also. Let us know your solution.

01-14-2023, 07:22 AM	#3
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 1,971	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Time to convert to 12 volts.

01-14-2023, 07:49 AM	#4
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow replace the brushes and springs sometimes the springs lose their tension. I just had one do the same thing.

01-14-2023, 11:26 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,436	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow The brushes & springs are the easy things first. Not much joy if that doesn't do the trick. The fields have to provide good magnetism and the armature has to be able to react to the magnetic forces. If a field coil is cross shorting due to insulation break down the the filed will be weak. If the armature windings have insulation break down or are shorting then it won't react well. It only takes one open winding in an armature to make for weak reaction. All of this can be checked with a growler and an Ohm meter. Fields can be rewound and armatures can be repaired. There is at least one person still doing this stuff. A person can rewind their own fields if they get the correct magnet wire. There are also instructions for this out there. http://www.santaanitaas.org/wp-conte...ooguh-horn.pdf Last edited by rotorwrench; 01-14-2023 at 09:35 PM.

01-14-2023, 11:34 AM	#6
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,355	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I did a video showing basic disassembly and cleaning. Anyone can do it. That’d be the first step I’d recommend. https://youtu.be/dvDl_6bDaJY

01-14-2023, 12:31 PM	#7
LEM Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Everett, Wa Posts: 84	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow This is a very good horn repair video. https://youtu.be/80HheWrv2_s

01-14-2023, 12:58 PM	#8
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,899	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Rotorwrench has a good thought. Test resistance of windings and test for shorts to ground. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-19-2023, 09:31 AM	#9
DHZIEMAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Sunrise Beach, Mo Posts: 439	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow A klaxon can draw up to 15 amps at 6 volts! Using the formula that puts the resistance in the .4 to .5 ohm range! you can also Connect an ammeter in series with the horn direct and disconnected from the car and check amp draw! Low amp draw and horn not working would indicate high resistance some place in the horn. In looking at the picture the commutator looks good but how are the brushes and brush springs? If the horn functions well on a bench test, that leaves the cars horn button circuit and wiring as a possible issue

01-19-2023, 09:40 AM	#10
grj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,415	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Saw this at Hershey many years ago. Club member had a several original horns on his table. Some were labeled 12V. Asked why. Said they did not sound well on 6V. Cheers.

01-20-2023, 10:02 PM	#11
Robbie Horn Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Axtell Texas Posts: 73	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow I found a collapsed spring behind one of the brushes. I stretched it out & put it back in & it works fine. I have a new set of brushes & springs on order for it. Thanks for all the help!!!

01-21-2023, 11:57 AM	#12
Ted Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fairfield, Virginia Posts: 615	Re: Ahooga Horn motor spins real slow Check your grounds