The Ford Barn

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 02:21 PM

Hey guys, I been trying to get my horns on my 40 deluxe to work but can't seem to do it. Everything about these types of cars is all new to me. When I push the horn button I can hear the relay click. I've tried running a wire from the negative battery post directly to the horn but nothing happens. The horns look to have been restored at one time. Took one horn out to look at the wiring inside, nice and clean. Took the points apart to clean they go back together very tight just like when I took them apart. What am I missing on this? Need good experienced help please! Thanks in advance! Steve

19Fordy · 10-31-2021, 03:07 PM

By pass the horn button and relay and first see if the horns work when attached directly to the battery.

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 03:30 PM

19Fordy, I've tried that with a wire to the negative side of the battery and have nothing. Still looking for answers. Thanks for your suggestion though.

Ggmac · 10-31-2021, 03:35 PM

You are still 6 v pos ground? Is the horn isolated and not making a complete circuit. Have you tried a cable from the horn body to the pos and a neg wire to the horn where the relay wire use to go . It takes alot of amps and will get hot fas , use for just quick tests . No fuel around incase it sparks .

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 04:22 PM

Ggmac, I tried again, this time ran wires from the pos and neg battery terminal's. They both work! So is something in my horn relay not completing the circuit? Do I need to replace the horn relay with a new one? Thanks guys!

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 05:01 PM

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Just went out to the car and put a test light on the connections coming out of the horn relay to the horns. Had my daughter press on the horn on the steering wheel. My test light lit up so my relay is working. I'm thinking that the horns are not grounding properly to complete the circuit so I need to check for paint where things are bolted together and maybe remove a little. Any other suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks again guys!

19Fordy · 10-31-2021, 05:12 PM

Check the horn wire that runs down through the steering column. It may need replacing.
https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/car...4308-horn-wire

I think DRAKE also sells it. There's also some on EBAY.

Ggmac · 10-31-2021, 06:05 PM

Do you have a really nice painted trumpet ? I would bet its got paint where it’s disturbing the circuit.

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 06:13 PM

I think that is what is causing my problem is nice black paint somewhere that is interfering with the ground. That's one of the things I'll be looking for tomorrow. Thanks again to all who replied to my call for help on this problem. I appreciate you all!

deuce_roadster · 10-31-2021, 08:27 PM

I have restored the horns for both of my 40s. One thing I found was that the adjustment is hyper sensitive. There is very little movement between not working at all and making a horrible noise. Somewhere between the two is a nice clear tone. Clean the contact points and then using small jumper wires to a 6v battery, adjust it to a sound of your liking. You will be surprised at how little you need to move the adjustment.
Of course, you have to take the cover off to see this.

Steve007 · 10-31-2021, 09:00 PM

I'll give it a try to get better tone. Thanks!

10-31-2021, 02:21 PM	#1
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	1940 ford trumpet horns need help Hey guys, I been trying to get my horns on my 40 deluxe to work but can't seem to do it. Everything about these types of cars is all new to me. When I push the horn button I can hear the relay click. I've tried running a wire from the negative battery post directly to the horn but nothing happens. The horns look to have been restored at one time. Took one horn out to look at the wiring inside, nice and clean. Took the points apart to clean they go back together very tight just like when I took them apart. What am I missing on this? Need good experienced help please! Thanks in advance! Steve

10-31-2021, 03:07 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,919	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help By pass the horn button and relay and first see if the horns work when attached directly to the battery. Last edited by 19Fordy; 10-31-2021 at 03:15 PM.

10-31-2021, 03:30 PM	#3
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help 19Fordy, I've tried that with a wire to the negative side of the battery and have nothing. Still looking for answers. Thanks for your suggestion though.

10-31-2021, 03:35 PM	#4
Ggmac Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Lake worth Florida Posts: 1,086	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help You are still 6 v pos ground? Is the horn isolated and not making a complete circuit. Have you tried a cable from the horn body to the pos and a neg wire to the horn where the relay wire use to go . It takes alot of amps and will get hot fas , use for just quick tests . No fuel around incase it sparks .

10-31-2021, 04:22 PM	#5
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help Ggmac, I tried again, this time ran wires from the pos and neg battery terminal's. They both work! So is something in my horn relay not completing the circuit? Do I need to replace the horn relay with a new one? Thanks guys!

10-31-2021, 05:01 PM	#6
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just went out to the car and put a test light on the connections coming out of the horn relay to the horns. Had my daughter press on the horn on the steering wheel. My test light lit up so my relay is working. I'm thinking that the horns are not grounding properly to complete the circuit so I need to check for paint where things are bolted together and maybe remove a little. Any other suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks again guys!

10-31-2021, 05:12 PM	#7
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,919	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help Check the horn wire that runs down through the steering column. It may need replacing. https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/car...4308-horn-wire I think DRAKE also sells it. There's also some on EBAY.

10-31-2021, 06:05 PM	#8
Ggmac Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Lake worth Florida Posts: 1,086	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help Do you have a really nice painted trumpet ? I would bet its got paint where it’s disturbing the circuit.

10-31-2021, 06:13 PM	#9
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help I think that is what is causing my problem is nice black paint somewhere that is interfering with the ground. That's one of the things I'll be looking for tomorrow. Thanks again to all who replied to my call for help on this problem. I appreciate you all!

10-31-2021, 08:27 PM	#10
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,799	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help I have restored the horns for both of my 40s. One thing I found was that the adjustment is hyper sensitive. There is very little movement between not working at all and making a horrible noise. Somewhere between the two is a nice clear tone. Clean the contact points and then using small jumper wires to a 6v battery, adjust it to a sound of your liking. You will be surprised at how little you need to move the adjustment. Of course, you have to take the cover off to see this. Last edited by deuce_roadster; 10-31-2021 at 08:36 PM.

10-31-2021, 09:00 PM	#11
Steve007 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 13	Re: 1940 ford trumpet horns need help I'll give it a try to get better tone. Thanks!

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