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Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:35 am
by rocketsteve
So, while I'm fixing loads of stuff around the bike - I thought I might dump the stock horn and replace it with a Turbo Monster now located next to the battery. :yikes:

I can't fire up the bike because I'm waiting for the new Pingel with Reserve hence no fuel in the tank.

Question is - does the horn work with just the ignition on because I've got no power running through the one wire from the horn button. :dizzy: :dizzy:

Or does the engine need to be running?

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 8:55 am
by Paul H
Stebel Nautilus is a great choice and cost
less than $50.oo. Come in black or chrome.
Some have gone with Wolo bad boy, also.

Paul H

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:49 am
by Carl La Fong
I believe the one wire from the handlebar switch is a ground. You should have a switched, hot wire going to the relay. The horn will work when the ignition is on. The engine doesn't have to be running

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2017 2:51 pm
by rocketsteve
Thanks for the guidance, I'll attempt a Hot Wire set-up. :thumbup:

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:06 am
by rocketsteve
Problem solved - 10A fuse had blown!

The mention of this Hot Wire thing sent me completely off the right track. :?

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 6:23 pm
by The Mindless Philosopher
Ha! Now you're gonna have to buy a new horn just because you want to scare people!

Congratulations on the easy fix! I understand the joy!

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 5:39 am
by hogv8
IMHO a horn on a motorcycle is a totally useless device . OK for trying to get a fellow riders attention for some reason but to get the attention of a vieichle not so much . I have a cheap little quiet horn on my bike strictly for inspection , other than that it never gets used . The same goes for my truck , just never use it . I know there are drivers out there that could not live without their horn , I'm just not one of them .

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 8:35 am
by Ron Radulski
Everybody needs a horn for clean "road rage"! It sure beats using a gun every time some moron cuts you off or doesn't see you! A horn will keep you out of jail, unlike a gun. IMHO. LOL

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:08 pm
by Carl La Fong
I have to disagree. Been riding for nearly 55 years and have used my horn many times, effectively. In CA, where lane splitting is legal, a good, loud horn is a must

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 1:34 pm
by hogv8
Carl La Fong wrote:I have to disagree. Been riding for nearly 55 years and have used my horn many times, effectively. In CA, where lane splitting is legal, a good, loud horn is a must
Different strokes for different folks . Been riding also for over 55 years and have just have not been one to use my horn bike or truck .
Back years ago when they made a horn mandatory to pass inspection here in NY state me and my fellow chopper friends had one squeeze bulb horn among us that we would use just for inspection purposes .

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:37 pm
by Puff
While riding on the Belt PKWY on Long Island,
a car was merging onto the pkwy and didn't
see me to his immediate left. If I hadn't sounded
the air horn, he would have hit me.
When I nailed the horn, it scared the doo doo
out of him. He YANKED the steering wheel HARD
to the right, and went OFF the roadway.
My air horn saved my tail that day !
Air horns are the way-to-go on ALL bikes !
:ridding:

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:30 pm
by Paul H
The Stebel Nautilus and Wolo are both
mini air horns???

Paul H

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:55 am
by rocketsteve
I'm sure they are Paul, as is the Twin Tone Air Horn I've fitted.

This bike frightened the crap out of me when I first started it, I really wasn't expecting an explosion in my workshop :yikes: :rofl:

Similar with this hooter but I felt I needed something a bit louder than the exhaust to let others know I'm there when I need to.

So when the crowd gather to see me fire up this monster - I hit the horn button (by mistake ;) ) and make everyone jump, then hit the starter button and make them jump again! :toofunny:

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 4:11 am
by GordonBH
Hi Steve,

I like the look of the nautilus, where did you fit yours?

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 11:57 am
by rocketsteve
They only had red so I slid the battery over to the right and tucked it in here..

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:25 pm
by Paul H
I mounted mine between the carb and
water neck. It's under the tank. My thought was
it could be better heard from under there
than between the side panels???

Paul H

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:38 pm
by The Mindless Philosopher
I might relocate mine sooner or later. Get it out from under the body and put it where it can be heard better, but in a place where it is not easily seen. It's ugly.

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:42 pm
by hogv8
My horn sounds like " you meet the nicest people on a Honda " beep beep but it passes inspection .

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:03 am
by Puff
Inspection ?!

WHAT inspection??

:nanner: :rofl: :mrgreen:

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2017 10:16 am
by hogv8
Puff wrote:Inspection ?!

WHAT inspection??

:nanner: :rofl: :mrgreen:
NY state vehicle inspection . None in Tennessee?

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:18 am
by rocketsteve
I planned to slot the new horn in the Headstock where the original Wolo was fixed but there isn't enough room, so I fitted an 11" long steel tube with internal threads each end for both front tank bolts so I've restricted that Headstock space now.

Instructions on the new horn are quite specific; in making sure the horn outlet is facing downwards with only 25 degrees in either direction to play with.

Tried it out and it's louder than the Wolo & the Exhaust - so mission accomplished.

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:03 pm
by Paul H
Open bell of the horn down at less than 25 degrees
is more then likely to keep water out, IMHO???

Paul H

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 12:04 pm
by Puff
Jack,
No inspection at all in Dyersburg.
So we can get away with murder !
Larger Tn cities have inspection.
I DO remember NY State inspection,
as I grew up on Long Island.
Bill

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 12:22 pm
by The Mindless Philosopher
Current location on the trike...

Re: Horn Upgrade.

Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:13 pm
by Ron Radulski
Puff wrote:Inspection ?!

WHAT inspection??

:nanner: :rofl: :mrgreen:
No inspection in Michigan!