The Ford Barn

katy · 09-06-2022, 10:07 AM

Should the "wobble wheel" on the end of the armature shaft have grease on it, where it conacts the dimple of the diaphram?

31Tudor · 09-06-2022, 10:18 AM

Yes, a little bit

Will N · 09-06-2022, 10:28 AM

I say no. Anything that can gum up the ability of the motor to spool up to full RPM quickly is right out.

31Tudor · 09-06-2022, 10:32 AM

Been doing it for 30+ years when I have worked on a horn. Never an issue and it seems to hlelp the RPM to your point above for the tone of the horn. Just my experience however.

alexiskai · 09-06-2022, 11:42 AM

The horn is what you'd call a "light-duty" component. If you drove your car every day and sounded the horn twice a day on average, at the end of the year, the horn motor would have 12 minutes of use on it. I think it was for this reason that they didn't bother to grease the ratchet at the factory, despite it qualifying as a metal-on-metal sliding contact.

That said, there are good reasons to grease the ratchet:

Reduces energy lost to friction, so the horn can be louder without the ratchet being slowed/stopped by the diaphragm
Reduces wear on the contact surfaces, which is good in this era of parts shortages
Helps protect surfaces against rust

The horn rebuilders I know grease the ratchet. If you didn't grease it, you'd probably be fine too.

JoeCB · 09-07-2022, 09:18 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Remember "Brill Cream" .... a little dab will do ya'

applies here too

Joe B

alexiskai · 09-07-2022, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCB

Remember "Brill Cream" .... a little dab will do ya'

applies here too

Joe B

Any more than a dab will wind up splattered on the rim of the motor base the first time the motor spins up.

katy · 09-07-2022, 10:07 AM

Thanks for the input.

rotorwrench · 09-08-2022, 04:42 PM

I'd spray the horn motor ratchet with a coat of dry lube like Moly Koat and leave it at that. Too much lube and the diaphragm won't vibrate as well. That vibration is what makes the noise. The louder the better.

katy · 09-09-2022, 09:51 AM

I have a big can of graphite grease, I'll try a smidge of that.
Thanks all.

Y-Blockhead · 09-09-2022, 11:31 AM

It only mentions lubricating the armature in the Service Bulletins.

alexiskai · 09-09-2022, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

It only mentions lubricating the armature in the Service Bulletins.

This is definitely a practice that has evolved out of the "folk tradition" of Model A maintenance rather than coming from the manufacturer. Doesn't mean it's bad, though. The Ford Service Dept wasn't trying to preserve these for 95 years.

Y-Blockhead · 09-09-2022, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexiskai

This is definitely a practice that has evolved out of the "folk tradition" of Model A maintenance rather than coming from the manufacturer. Doesn't mean it's bad, though. The Ford Service Dept wasn't trying to preserve these for 95 years.

Whatever, just passing along info...

katy · 09-11-2022, 10:15 AM

I put a smidge of graphite grease on the "wobble wheel", works great.
Does anyone know the proper thickness of the gaskets for the diaphragm? Or does it matter? I made a couple because they were missing.

09-06-2022, 10:07 AM	#1
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Greasing a Model A horn? Should the "wobble wheel" on the end of the armature shaft have grease on it, where it conacts the dimple of the diaphram? __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

09-06-2022, 10:18 AM	#2
31Tudor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 611	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? Yes, a little bit

09-06-2022, 10:28 AM	#3
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,100	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? I say no. Anything that can gum up the ability of the motor to spool up to full RPM quickly is right out.

09-06-2022, 10:32 AM	#4
31Tudor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 611	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? Been doing it for 30+ years when I have worked on a horn. Never an issue and it seems to hlelp the RPM to your point above for the tone of the horn. Just my experience however.

09-06-2022, 11:42 AM	#5
alexiskai Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mebane NC Posts: 2,356	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? The horn is what you'd call a "light-duty" component. If you drove your car every day and sounded the horn twice a day on average, at the end of the year, the horn motor would have 12 minutes of use on it. I think it was for this reason that they didn't bother to grease the ratchet at the factory, despite it qualifying as a metal-on-metal sliding contact. That said, there are good reasons to grease the ratchet: Reduces energy lost to friction, so the horn can be louder without the ratchet being slowed/stopped by the diaphragm Reduces wear on the contact surfaces, which is good in this era of parts shortages Helps protect surfaces against rust The horn rebuilders I know grease the ratchet. If you didn't grease it, you'd probably be fine too.

09-07-2022, 09:18 AM	#6
JoeCB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 284	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Remember "Brill Cream" .... a little dab will do ya' applies here too Joe B

09-07-2022, 10:07 AM	#8
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? Thanks for the input. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

09-08-2022, 04:42 PM	#9
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? I'd spray the horn motor ratchet with a coat of dry lube like Moly Koat and leave it at that. Too much lube and the diaphragm won't vibrate as well. That vibration is what makes the noise. The louder the better.

09-09-2022, 09:51 AM	#10
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? I have a big can of graphite grease, I'll try a smidge of that. Thanks all. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! Last edited by katy; 09-09-2022 at 09:52 AM. Reason: Addition

09-09-2022, 11:31 AM	#11
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? It only mentions lubricating the armature in the Service Bulletins.

09-11-2022, 10:15 AM	#14
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,046	Re: Greasing a Model A horn? I put a smidge of graphite grease on the "wobble wheel", works great. Does anyone know the proper thickness of the gaskets for the diaphragm? Or does it matter? I made a couple because they were missing. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!