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Old 01-20-2020, 09:34 PM   #1
dansluck
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Default Ahooha

How many amps does it take to honk the horn. Just installed an alternator and now the horn doesn't work. With the generator I had to rev the engine to get more amps ,about 10 amps. Spartan horn
Thanks
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Old 01-20-2020, 09:40 PM   #2
J Franklin
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Didn't anybody explain that when you make modifications the Ford gets even? The alternator works differently than a generator with plain cutout. Go through the horn, bring it back to specs, and it will work again.
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Old 01-20-2020, 09:56 PM   #3
alexiskai
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Default Re: Ahooha

You should be able to sound the horn with the car off, just pressing the horn button on the steering wheel. Works off the battery. I know this because my kids really enjoy doing it while I'm under the hood.

... anyway maybe check your wiring and grounding.
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Old 01-20-2020, 10:36 PM   #4
Kurt in NJ
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Default Re: Ahooha

My horn gets set for parade or road, one click looser for parade, lower voltage, horn tune up-- drop of oil on each felt, clean commutator by rubbing with clean rag

Perhaps you should check the charging voltage to be sure the alternator is charging
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Old 01-21-2020, 01:40 PM   #5
Aok
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My horn worked fine on my 31 coupe, sounded good on 6v but was louder on 12v, no idea of the amps but they seem to work with whatever you throw at them.
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Old 01-21-2020, 01:57 PM   #6
duke36
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check the ground at the head light bar and elsewhere. need clean metal to metal contact.
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Old 01-21-2020, 11:19 PM   #7
Bill G
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Default Re: Ahooha

Quote:
Originally Posted by duke36 View Post
check the ground at the head light bar and elsewhere. need clean metal to metal contact.
The horn gets its ground from the wire going to the horn button on the steering wheel, and unlike the headlights, the horn is not electrically grounded through its physical mount.

So, the ground goes to the wire bail and connects there. The other wire to the horn goes right to the battery connection on the generator. If you replaced the generator with an alternator, the things to check would be (a) did you stay with 6-volt positive ground? (b) is the alternator a single wire connection or some other configuration. If it is a single wire, then the battery connection should go to the output of the alternator just like it would on a generator. The "hot" lead of the horn connects there too.
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Old 01-22-2020, 03:43 PM   #8
midgetracer
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Default Re: Ahooha

Quote:
Originally Posted by duke36 View Post
check the ground at the head light bar and elsewhere. need clean metal to metal contact.
The Horn does not ground on the headlight bar. The ground is supplied through the horn button. Hot is always connected to the horn.
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Old 01-21-2020, 10:48 PM   #9
dansluck
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Default Re: Ahooha

Thanks Guys, some good pointers. It was cold out,12*, when I was trying it. Battery reads 6.8 volts.
Dan
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Old 01-22-2020, 03:45 PM   #10
midgetracer
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Sorry Magicbox. I missed your post.
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Old 01-22-2020, 04:51 PM   #11
Herb Concord Ca
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Default Re: Ahooha

On 6 Volts, the horn should draw 4-6 amps. Actual current will be determine on how clean the communicator is and how free the armature turns by hand (is it clean and felts well oiled).
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