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ViragoTechForum.com » General Help » horns replaced, still suck (SOLVED!)

#1:  horns replaced, still suck (SOLVED!) Author: katatonic61,  Post Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:00 pm

As the title suggests, I just replaced my completely non working horns with some $20 parts store replacements. Now I get sound, just not a honk, more of a clunk, and all the lights dim. I assume the fuse is good, otherwise there would be no sound at all. They are not polarity sensitive, so not wired backwards. Thoughts?

Last edited by katatonic61 on Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:51 am; edited 1 time in total

#2:   Author: 1986 XV700,  Post Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:21 pm

Three thoughts come to mind from trial and error.

Is your battery fully charged? My horns don't do much more than vibrate if the battery is low.

You might need to adjust the screw on the back of the horn, the one with the jamb nut on it, most horns have one. Get the screw loose enough to adjust without too much trouble. Hold the horn button in while tweaking the screw a little in each direction. If you get it where you want it tighten the jamb nut back up.

If neither of these work then you might want to look into cleaning the contacts on the horn button.

If that doesn't work then you might have to install a relay to drive the horn that is controlled by the horn button.

After typing this I had another thought. Why not try touching running a 12 volt + an - wire directly from the battery to the horn for a quick test first. If that works go up the the top and work your way back down.

#3:  Re: horns replaced, still suck Author: wegriffin8642,  Post Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 11:17 am

Harbor Freight and several other online stores sell a WOLO air horn (completely self contained unit). These work great and have a lot of volume and attention getting sound....they often sell for about $35....come in black or chrome.

#4:   Author: geo,  Post Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:50 pm

wegriffin8642 wrote (View Post): ›
Harbor Freight and several other online stores sell a WOLO air horn (completely self contained unit). These work great and have a lot of volume and attention getting sound....they often sell for about $35....come in black or chrome.


yep. i use this. GREAT horn. mounted on highway bars just in front of engine, below starter

#5:   Author: Roger Ramjet,  Post Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:11 pm

Horn ???? Loud Pipes and an attitude works for me .

#6:   Author: Jake,  Post Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:48 pm

1986 XV700 wrote (View Post): › Three thoughts come to mind from trial and error.

Is your battery fully charged? My horns don't do much more than vibrate if the battery is low.

You might need to adjust the screw on the back of the horn, the one with the jamb nut on it, most horns have one. Get the screw loose enough to adjust without too much trouble. Hold the horn button in while tweaking the screw a little in each direction. If you get it where you want it tighten the jamb nut back up.

If neither of these work then you might want to look into cleaning the contacts on the horn button.

If that doesn't work then you might have to install a relay to drive the horn that is controlled by the horn button.

After typing this I had another thought. Why not try touching running a 12 volt + an - wire directly from the battery to the horn for a quick test first. If that works go up the the top and work your way back down.

#7:  Re: horns replaced, still suck Author: eaglebeak,  Post Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:50 am

As mentioned already, make sure your battery is good and fully charged. Next do the frame grounding modification. Then, install a horn-relay because it's absolutely necessary for any loud horns and will even bring the OEM horns up by at least 50% in loudness.

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#8:   Author: pofarm,  Post Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 9:29 pm

eaglebeak wrote (View Post): ›
As mentioned already, make sure your battery is good and fully charged. Next do the frame grounding modification. Then, install a horn-relay because it's absolutely necessary for any loud horns and will even bring the OEM horns up by at least 50% in loudness.


I agree. Gotta use a relay to make the horns work right. The stock wiring just isn't up to par when adding aftermarket horns.

#9:   Author: katatonic61,  Post Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:51 am

Done and done, holy loud, Batman!

#10:  Re: horns replaced, still suck (SOLVED!) Author: arnie,  Post Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 8:58 pm

Loud pipes and an attitude won't help with a cage in front of you.
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