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Air horn fix

June 01, 2012, 07:35:54 pm

Im trying to get my air horns to work.
I have read that a bad ground under the steering wheel hub is a usual suspect.
How does the hub come off?
Thanks for your help.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #1 – June 01, 2012, 08:28:08 pm

On my '99: Remove the decorative nut cover.  Then remove the nut and pull the wheel with an inexpensive harmonic balancer puller (or a steering wheel puller).

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #2 – June 02, 2012, 12:46:49 am

Did you check to see if the air solenoid gets power when the horn button is pressed, before you remove the horn button?

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #3 – June 02, 2012, 05:50:43 am

I did not check the solenoid yet. I have never seen the air compressor come on since I have had the coach.
I tried the air horn for the first time a couple weeks ago and heard a very brief low powered honk. That was the last and only sound I heard from it.

I will check the power to the compressor this week end. Thanks for the tip about the solenoid and depressing the horn button. I take it that if I get power when pressing the horn at the solenoid but no compressor activity, the solenoid is the problem? Can I by pass the solenoid to check the compressor?

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #4 – June 02, 2012, 06:12:29 am

Check light wire at solenoid while pressing horn button.  If you get voltage, then check output wire to horn.  If you have power there, check horn.  Apply battery voltage to output to horn to confirm horn operation.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #5 – June 02, 2012, 08:32:35 am

Lon, These horns are a natural home for mud daubers and other insects.  If coach has been stored that might be your problem.  Your statement that I" I heard a low moan " leads me to believe that you have air going to the horn and problem is there. Also these horns are subject to corrosion as they are usually pot metal, if corroded thru you may net get any sound out of them. Inspect them looking for bubbles and crazes in the chrome plating.
Gary B

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #6 – June 02, 2012, 09:55:39 am

One of the horns on our coach quit working. I stuffed a rag in the "good" horn to cut down on extraneous noise and went to work on the faulty horn. I sprayed some water into it. I rapped the back end a few times with a rubber hammer (percussive maintenance). I pushed a lot of air through it. I don't remember for sure, but I think I got the bride to push the horn button while I applied percussive maintenance. After a few minutes, the horn started working again. I now exercise the horn regularly.

The horns on our coach operate from the air system that operates when the "big" engine is running. They do not operate from the pressure that levels the coach when parked. The little 12VDC compressor that comes on to adjust the leveling system when parked has nothing to do with the air horns. Our coach maintains pressure for the suspension system when parked, but the pressure for the brake systems and driving suspension falls to low levels in about 24 hours. The air horns will not work properly unless the engine has run recently and the air pressure is 90-110 psi.

I suggest that you do the testing and "percussive adjustment" on the horns with the air pressure up to full operational levels. You will probably need to run the engine to get the pressure up.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #7 – June 02, 2012, 11:14:34 am

The air horns disassemble very easily for cleaning if you don't mind working on the roof. Certainly sounds ( ) like yours are plugged by insects.

As an aside, I recently replaced both horns as the chrome was flaking off. In the process I discovered that the right and left horns are of different lengths (26 & 29"(corrected from first post) in my case) to create a blended tone. So If you do replace just one, be sure to get the right length.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #8 – June 02, 2012, 11:43:46 am

Hi Bob,
  What kind of pricing did you find for your horn replacement? Where did you find them?
Thanks,
Raymond

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #9 – June 02, 2012, 01:09:37 pm

Hi Raymond,

Sorry, I looked but can't find that invoice. I believe the Hadley part numbers are H00978 (26" horn) and H00977 (29" horn). I'm sure I bought them online. I think they were about $120 to $130 each.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #10 – June 02, 2012, 03:52:51 pm

Our HWH air compressor has nothing to do with air-horn. Compressor only turns on when the HWH level system calls for a raise and the brake air tanks are below a specific air pressure. The compressor then tries to lift front or rear air bags and does not fill our brake air tanks. Dash air pressure gauges only measure brake air tanks and do not change when compressor runs.

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Re: Air horn fix

Reply #11 – June 02, 2012, 05:40:34 pm

Thanks for the info! I thought the air compressor was used for the air horns.
 You saved the small compressor a horrible fate!

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