Author Topic: Horn didn't work but I fixed it! (Read 3674 times)

DarcyCB400F · « **on:** February 03, 2011, 05:49:29 PM »

MY '77CB400F had a horn that didn't work... at all. Couldn't get any life out of it all... completely dead.
I had power to it and the button works just fine.

So I boiled it! yep... I boiled it!

I thought that I couldnt do it any more harm and horns are naturally exposed to soapy water not to mention rain... so I boiled it for 10 minutes and while it was still warm, connected it to my battery charger just to give it a shot of juice!

cookindaddy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2011, 06:03:39 PM »

Is there an adjusting screw on the back? With a lock nut?

Loosen the lock nut. Connect the horn to a battery and slowly turn the adjusting screw in one direction and, if it does not sound, in the other direction. When it goes off be careful not to drop the horn, since it is loud.

Put the adjusting screw in about the middle of the range where it is loud and tighten the lock nut.

That's about all there is to it.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2011, 06:16:41 PM »

Hmmm. Ok. I not sure the internals of our horns are similar to that of an automobile per se. Did it actually work after you boiled it?

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2011, 07:38:42 PM »

Before I boiled it, I tried adjusting the main adjustment fine thread screw and the fine tune adjusting screw with the little lock nut... no sign of life anywhere.. couldnt even get a spark when putting power to it...

After I boiled it, it came to life without any issue asside from tuning/adjusting it. It really needs to be mounted onto the mounting bracket (which can be removed from the bike easily) for easy access to the adjusting screws. Tf you just hold the horn in your hand, it works but doesn't tune very good.

In short, it works perfctly now what it is tuned and installed on the bike!

Hondawggie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:00:10 PM »

Thanks dude I have a dead-as-disco horn that is going to get boiled up now, using the adjuster screw was not doing anything

never woulda thought to do that

wonder why it works, maybe the vibrations are being dampened out by too much residue from all the road miles
who knows, but I'm gonna give it a shot! thanks for posting that

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2011, 08:03:49 PM »

I'm trying not to be a "doubting Thomas" but I can't see that horn working for very long. I put the over/under at 2 days!

Stev-o · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2011, 09:27:51 PM »

Did you put a little olive oil and salt in there? [like pasta!]

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2011, 07:59:48 AM »

Well "Thomas", it works like a brand new horn. I expect it work for years to come.

I will post here when it fails.

As for the olive oil and salt... when is olive oil ever a bad thing??

thelowmax · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:09:01 AM »

That's very interesting. I think that it's designed to be very wet (maybe not submerged) but I see no reason that it wouldn't work. I'm sure it got rid of any dirt and oil and once it dries a little it shouldn't be any worse than before (when it didn't work

). I've put quite a few things in the dishwasher myself. From wheel hubs and sprockets to my precious vinyl records.

Toxic · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:29:53 AM »

Jeez, you guys are missing the obvious question.

What was your rationale for boiling it? Why did you even think of such and idea.

I'm glad it worked but WHY?

Just curious what the thought process was.

joehardy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2011, 08:36:15 AM »

1/2 c. butter
2 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
7 1/2 oz. can snails, drained
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
Dash pepper
Snail shells (or motorcycle horn)

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2011, 10:16:02 AM »

Joe... you kill me... too funny! hahaha

Anyway to the rationale...

I wanted to get some heat into the horn and hesitated to use my heat gun for fear of overheating it and cooking the guts... (pun intended

. The boiling water wouldn't generate enough heat to melt solder connections or otherwise damage the horn (not that I really cared too much as it wasn't working anyway). I know that the horn is exposed to tons of water in it's life for obvious reasons so hot water was my next obvious choice...

My wife's is a good sport so when I pulled out the pot she just rolled her eyes.

Don R · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2011, 01:58:55 PM »

I spreayed WD40 into mine and rolled it around a little, tapped it, got some dirt out and it started working, the more I honk the better it works.

Ernest T · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2011, 03:35:14 PM »

There's a thin metal strip in the horn that vibrates to make the noise, they get dirt inside and can't vibrate. Boiling seems like the perfect way to clean it, You don't want a lot of oil inside to attract more dirt.

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2011, 05:39:11 PM »

Thanks for the endoresment Ernest!

It must be the name sake that makes us "out fo the box" thinkers think alike... since I share your name as my middle name after my grandfather who gave me great advice in the years I shared with him! "unless it's broke... dont fix it" was one of his best!

Darcy

dave500 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2011, 07:52:38 PM »

boil a horn untill you can push a fork into it,itll have a softer tone then.

DarcyCB400F · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2011, 03:35:33 PM »

It's been a few weeks since I boiled my horn and I thought I would test it again last night... here's what happened...

It STILL works like a brand new horn!!

No fork required.... lol

singedebile · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2011, 04:58:07 PM »

this should certainly get added to the tips and tricks section,

splitt · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2011, 09:36:16 PM »

Sometimes the contacts inside the horn become corroded. I've used contact cleaner to revive a horn before, I have to clean the horn on my cruiser every 3 - 4 yrs., but I ride in some real crappy weather with it occasionally.

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2011, 10:05:44 PM »

Hints from Heloise!

News:

Author Topic: Horn didn't work but I fixed it! (Read 3674 times)