The Ford Barn

Brentwood Bob · 09-30-2012, 11:37 AM

During the replacing of the head gasket on the huckster we disturbed the headlight bar to fender brace bolts. Needless to say, now the horn is not functioning.
I started cleaning and sanding to bright metal at the headlight mount and can get a bump with an alligator clipped wire ground. I clipped to the armature frame. This one may take a while. Seems like every time you rush a job you take several steps in the other direction. Float a motors are a PITA. Bob

james hitchcock · 09-30-2012, 11:52 AM

Mine did that last week. I reached around and pushed the horn button while I turned the adjusting screw on the horn 1 click. It took off and has been working fine since. My horn has a mind of it's own.

Charlie Stephens · 09-30-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brentwood Bob

During the replacing of the head gasket on the huckster we disturbed the headlight bar to fender brace bolts. Needless to say, now the horn is not functioning.
I started cleaning and sanding to bright metal at the headlight mount and can get a bump with an alligator clipped wire ground. I clipped to the armature frame. This one may take a while. Seems like every time you rush a job you take several steps in the other direction. Float a motors are a PITA. Bob

If you have an original horn there is a "hot" wire going to the horn and a second wire going to the horn button. Check the wiring diagram in the instruction manual for the car ((I hope you have one). The horn body does not need to be grounded to the car to work.

Charlie Stephens

Brentwood Bob · 09-30-2012, 08:05 PM

I will pull the 2 wires and check them. Could be loose, Thanks. Bob

Mike V. Florida · 09-30-2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

If you have an original horn there is a "hot" wire going to the horn and a second wire going to the horn button. Check the wiring diagram in the instruction manual for the car ((I hope you have one). The horn body does not need to be grounded to the car to work.

Charlie Stephens

Like Charlie said, the horn does not care about being grounded to the light bar.

Brentwood Bob · 10-01-2012, 12:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks. Suspect a problem with the connections at the base of the steering column. Will keep poking around until I solve it. Bob

d.j. moordigian · 10-01-2012, 12:49 PM

Bob

Geezzz......you could send me that broken down old horn....lol

[email protected] · 10-01-2012, 12:58 PM

Good start. It may not harm to take to bottom cover off of the steering column and spray the contacts with some degreaser spray or starting fluid. Lots of oil from the steering box can get up on those electrical contacts.

I also had a recent problem with a horn that would not work then not work consistantly. Not cool for driving any Model A in a parade.... I cured it by getting the horn to run just as a motor by loosening up the adjustment screw. Then I used my wife's fingernail emery board to clean up the commutator on the horn by pressing it against the running commutator until it looked clean and shiny. It seems that I must of had a high spot some where on the commutator that would catch a brush and then prevent the horn from working until you hit it or played around with it.

I also oiled up the shaft ends, blew off any contaminates off with an air nozzle. I was also careful not to overtighten the cover when putting it back on. There has been cases of this screw being too long or too tight and shorting out the horn internally. This horn now sounds great and works first time, every time......

400A-64 · 10-01-2012, 01:05 PM

Bob, in anticipation of possible electrical problems... I purchased an electrical bonding strap an placed it from the transmission to the frame. Ive never had a grounding problem since!!!
Bruce

Brentwood Bob · 10-01-2012, 08:06 PM

Dudley, I will remember. You may see it at Turlock.
Bruce, I installed the strap. Something ain't right.
Will switch out Dudley's horn and see what happens. Bob

Brentwood Bob · 10-04-2012, 01:56 PM

Horn was the problem. Running 12v thru it probably wasn't a good idea. My helper likes to hit it. Have a resistor now and a replaced horn. Life is good.
I read les andrews maintenance for the horn in the vol. 1 book. When time permits I will go thru the horn. Any body rewind armatures? Bob

Brentwood Bob · 10-05-2012, 01:16 PM

tooting again. Bob

Brentwood Bob · 10-06-2012, 01:23 AM

Wondering now if the alternator is putting out at low rpms. Will try snugging up the fan belt. The leakless water pump was replaced with a rebuilt. So I thought a looser belt would work. No horn. Bob

nstegall · 10-06-2012, 09:33 AM

Bob,

I can rewind the armature for 6 volts or 12 volts.

You can send down the complete horn if you wish and I will install it and tune it correctly for you.

Let me know what kind you have.

Regards,

The Horn Man

Neil Stegall
414 South First Ave.
Forest, MS 39074
601-469-0878
[email protected]

Brentwood Bob · 10-06-2012, 11:55 AM

Now we are talking. pm sent. Bob

09-30-2012, 11:37 AM	#1
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	No horn. During the replacing of the head gasket on the huckster we disturbed the headlight bar to fender brace bolts. Needless to say, now the horn is not functioning. I started cleaning and sanding to bright metal at the headlight mount and can get a bump with an alligator clipped wire ground. I clipped to the armature frame. This one may take a while. Seems like every time you rush a job you take several steps in the other direction. Float a motors are a PITA. Bob

09-30-2012, 11:52 AM	#2
james hitchcock Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia Ca. Posts: 617	Re: No horn. Mine did that last week. I reached around and pushed the horn button while I turned the adjusting screw on the horn 1 click. It took off and has been working fine since. My horn has a mind of it's own.

09-30-2012, 08:05 PM	#4
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. I will pull the 2 wires and check them. Could be loose, Thanks. Bob

10-01-2012, 12:33 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks. Suspect a problem with the connections at the base of the steering column. Will keep poking around until I solve it. Bob

10-01-2012, 12:49 PM	#7
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: No horn. Bob Geezzz......you could send me that broken down old horn....lol

10-01-2012, 12:58 PM	#8
[email protected] Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 730	Re: No horn. Good start. It may not harm to take to bottom cover off of the steering column and spray the contacts with some degreaser spray or starting fluid. Lots of oil from the steering box can get up on those electrical contacts. I also had a recent problem with a horn that would not work then not work consistantly. Not cool for driving any Model A in a parade.... I cured it by getting the horn to run just as a motor by loosening up the adjustment screw. Then I used my wife's fingernail emery board to clean up the commutator on the horn by pressing it against the running commutator until it looked clean and shiny. It seems that I must of had a high spot some where on the commutator that would catch a brush and then prevent the horn from working until you hit it or played around with it. I also oiled up the shaft ends, blew off any contaminates off with an air nozzle. I was also careful not to overtighten the cover when putting it back on. There has been cases of this screw being too long or too tight and shorting out the horn internally. This horn now sounds great and works first time, every time......

10-01-2012, 01:05 PM	#9
400A-64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Grass Valley,CA Posts: 295	Re: No horn. Bob, in anticipation of possible electrical problems... I purchased an electrical bonding strap an placed it from the transmission to the frame. Ive never had a grounding problem since!!! Bruce

10-01-2012, 08:06 PM	#10
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. Dudley, I will remember. You may see it at Turlock. Bruce, I installed the strap. Something ain't right. Will switch out Dudley's horn and see what happens. Bob

10-04-2012, 01:56 PM	#11
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. Horn was the problem. Running 12v thru it probably wasn't a good idea. My helper likes to hit it. Have a resistor now and a replaced horn. Life is good. I read les andrews maintenance for the horn in the vol. 1 book. When time permits I will go thru the horn. Any body rewind armatures? Bob

10-05-2012, 01:16 PM	#12
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. tooting again. Bob

10-06-2012, 01:23 AM	#13
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. Wondering now if the alternator is putting out at low rpms. Will try snugging up the fan belt. The leakless water pump was replaced with a rebuilt. So I thought a looser belt would work. No horn. Bob

10-06-2012, 09:33 AM	#14
nstegall Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 94	Re: No horn. Bob, I can rewind the armature for 6 volts or 12 volts. You can send down the complete horn if you wish and I will install it and tune it correctly for you. Let me know what kind you have. Regards, The Horn Man Neil Stegall 414 South First Ave. Forest, MS 39074 601-469-0878 [email protected]

10-06-2012, 11:55 AM	#15
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,245	Re: No horn. Now we are talking. pm sent. Bob