Colin Lindsay Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Lockdown is making work for idle hands and I've just found a huge box of Lucas horns; out of the ten in the picture only the four on the left even click if attached to a battery and there isn't a doot out of any of them. Are these worth stripping down and restoring? Drilling out six rivets will open the case, but is there much inside that's user-serviceable? I've never seen spare parts or any kind of service kit. As with all old bits I'll feel very guilty throwing them in the bin if I don't at least try... What modern alternatives are we using? I don't mean Dukes of Hazzard thingies that look like the organ in the Royal Albert Hall and require half the national grid to run them; just two standard spade connectors will do. I can't get out anywhere to see what's on the shelves these days... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Colin, the things are been breeding over winter. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I replaced the pair on my 13/60 a couple of weeks ago as only one was working. They were mixed pair so at some point at least one had already been replaced. I just searched the net for a pair that looked sort of period that had spade connectors. The make were Bolk from Mister Auto here in France. They sound loud enough. I had to cut off the old ones though ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I believe they're pretty simple inside and can often be resurrected just by dismantling, cleaning and reassembling. The screw adjuster thing in the middle top is supposed to set the spring tension against the magnetic force - you "tune" it to maximize the sensitivity and volume. Whether it's worth doing is not for me to say - it depends how bored you are 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 33 minutes ago, dave.vitesse said: Colin, the things are been breeding over winter. Dave I thought you couldn't breed if the horn didn't work... 😮 Not so much bored, Rob, as guilty about throwing things like this out. All of the top screw adjusters are solid, so might need serious freeing-up at least as a first step. I'll start with the ones that at least click and spark and see how things go. As a precaution I'll start to look for modern lookalikes, too... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I'd give it a go - seems a shame to bin them. It's just a coil + diaphram and set of contacts inside. The contacts will probably need cleaning. There's a small adjustment screw towards the front of the horn ( not the large central screw); the setup procedure in the WSM calls for a 10Amp Ammeter to be conected in series while adjustment is made. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Colin, I did an article in Sept 16 covering the repair of horns. Most can be repaired and reset without the need to replace any parts. Worth a go. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 As Magnus Magnusson would have said:? I've started so I'll finish. This one is in quite good nick inside but doesn't click or spark at all. No idea why, as nothing is broken or rusted. This one does spark and click but you can see why there's no hoot. When I tried to make one out of the two, the bitser neither clicked nor hooted either. I'm doing something wrong again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Generally the electrical contacts need a good clean and rust removed from the working parts. Ear defenders when testing, pardon. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 My old gaffer when i was an apprentice used to throw a duff horn as hard as he could at a brick wall....... 95% success rate. Just try it with one that does not work? Anyone else tried this? Ps, plastic ones shatter on impact !! Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I’m not as bad as you Colin I only had 3 spares of the original type and they all worked. When the air horn failed recently on the Sprint I fitted two of the Triumph types a Lo & Hi tight fit. Then after starting the car at idle I wondered what the rattle was it’s those big horns hitting the rad overflow tank. so I’ll probably fit the smaller and more compact plastic Fiamm snail types I have a Lo tone but need a Hi but reluctant to pay the price so will keep looking, most moderns use these smaller types. I have stripped the older types down cleaned and oiled them and they have worked again but none of those were as crusty as yours Colin. Peter T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I was going to suggest banging them with a hammer whilst applying and removing the power. As for new ones, look for the Nautilus ones also found this https://www.carbibles.com/best-loud-car-horns/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 1 hour ago, thescrapman said: I was going to suggest banging them with a hammer whilst applying and removing the power. As for new ones, look for the Nautilus ones also found this https://www.carbibles.com/best-loud-car-horns/ The FIAMM ones look the part; I decided against the PIAA models after seeing the price... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I got mine from Paddocks; http://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/horn-high-note-8 Both mine were shot, one had already been replaced with some German thing. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 reminds me of horn tests . fit to truck out heck knows how many yards a way and blow the horns on the basis we couldnt hear any of them decided to buy the cheapest had a pair of red hi lo form halfords and they sounded nice tones and on the vIt6 had some snazzy chromed boat horns ,, yeh noisy not a bleating sheep the one on my Cactus is embarrassing to blow im a big fan of the nautilus self contained air horn a real blaster Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Just bought two FIAMM off eBay, ex Mercedes so at £8 they should be good enough. On the GT6 - where the horn clicks until you rotate the steering column (earthing problem?) - the horns are on the inside of the bonnet and bolted through to the space behind the sidelights; I'll put the new ones in there out of sight and leave the old ones in place for the sake of form. I have a set of Maserati air horns for the 1200 convertible and they're definitely loud enough. I still want to get some modicum of success with the old ones, though... top adjusting screws are all seized solid and some of the internals are just solid rust however what I don't get is that they spark, and click, before dismantling; I don't touch the electrics, which are generally good, but on reassembly, or even bench testing the 'points' with a battery connected to the terminals, there's nothing. No spark, no click. Lot of headscratching going on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Found this manual giving the setup procedure; might help you. Won't mixing tops and bottoms in your "bitser" horn will mean the mechanical throw is wrong and need reseting? Just a thought. David Lucas Workshop Horns 9H.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Colin - Had a go at mine about 2 years ago. I'm sure that I documented it on my restoration thread somewhere early on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 6 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: I still want to get some modicum of success with the old ones, though... top adjusting screws are all seized solid and some of the internals are just solid rust Would they be harmed by a vinegar soak for a few days. I have removed heavy, pretty solid rust with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 Vinegar has worked on some of my brake brackets - I left two soaking all week and they've come up very well, but I gave up on the horns and cheated - I bought a pair of FIAMM horns from a Mercedes SLK on the Bay, £8. Just fitted both to the GT6 - it was a poor earth stopping the originals from working, so now all sorted... and they are LOUD! (Sorry, neighbours!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlubikey Posted May 22, 2020 Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 36 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: a pair of FIAMM horns from a Mercedes SLK ... and they are LOUD! Bloody Mercedes drivers - think they own the road! Cheers, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 46 minutes ago, rlubikey said: Bloody Mercedes drivers - think they own the road! Cheers, Richard I know, I thought I would put them on a quality car for once. Hope they appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969Mk3Spitfire Posted May 26, 2020 Report Share Posted May 26, 2020 On 07/05/2020 at 17:08, dave.vitesse said: Colin, I did an article in Sept 16 covering the repair of horns. Most can be repaired and reset without the need to replace any parts. Worth a go. Dave I also have a horn problem; mine is blowing the fuse. Off the car, connected directly to a 12v battery it clicks and the wires get quite hot, quite quickly. Is there a way to access your Sept 16 article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted May 26, 2020 Report Share Posted May 26, 2020 Yes send me a PM or get my email address from a Courier - Vitesse Reg Sec. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy S Posted May 31, 2020 Report Share Posted May 31, 2020 What an excellent opportunity to fit something a little more interesting. Triple airhorns are loud and sound great. As long as they’re not an alternating tone it’s perfectly legit. In fact the ones I fitted to my Alfa have a switch so they can go from single note to TDF type sound. Childish but amusing. Andy S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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