My horn barely makes a sound

'82 XJ750 Maxim...when I press the horn button...barely makes a sound...kind of like a low buzz.
Was just going to go out and buy a couple of new horns, but thought I'd check here first...btw, I did clean the contact...still sounded the same.

 

On my XJ, the horn is pretty darn faint, though it's more than a buzz. Something I need to fix as well, probably won't pass inspection until I do. Would love to hear the answer to this.

 

Have you tried adjusting the tone screw on the back of the horn?
It could be badly corroded, so take care not to strip the thread.

 

I replaced my stock horns with a set of these: http://www.acumen-electronics.co.uk/pro ... nish_70001

They're smaller in diameter, and much louder than the stock horns. (They come in chrome also.)

Even with shipping from England, they were quite reasonable. Highly recommended.

 

You need full voltage for a loud BEEP. Carefully open it up and check/clean the points if FJ's suggestion doesn't help. These aren't that loud anyway.

 

mine sounds like a faint train horn, lol.

i need to do something about that.

 

Its a common problem with all old bikes. They supply 12Volts to the horn and the horn button completes the ground when you push it. Over time the connections corrode and the horn does not get full voltage.
My soultion;
-ditch the stock horn first, even with full voltage they are not loud. Most any new horn works well. I use a compact air horn on all mine.
-Install a 12 v relay in place of the stock horn. Unplug the horn and put the wires on the new relay coil connections. If your old horn worked a little then the relay shoild click ehrn you push the button.
- Run a wire from the battery(with a fuse in there somewhere) to the relay switch terminal. Another wire from the relay switch to the horn(new one or old one). Another wire from the horn to ground(frame or battery -).
- Now when you push the horn button you will have full voltage to the horn.

 

Thanks for the tip relay tip mlew.
I went out and bought a new PIAA horn set from Fleet Farm, the problem now is, at idle there is barely enough power to get more than about 60-70 dba (about normal speech). But if I rev the engine over 2k it'll get to about 85-90 dba (not quite as loud as a typical lawnmower, but loud enough for my purposes). These are rated at 134dba.
I guess (if I understand correctly), that at idle I'm getting juice from the battery and either it's not strong enough (although it's relatively new and has no trouble starting my bile), or the connections are weak...so I guess I'll go the route of adding a relay, and getting power directly from the battery.
Is this the proper route?

Yes, I have an audiometer..

 

bwahaha.

For the record, a friend of mine who is very handy with vehicles of every kind went through the connections for my horn with needlenose pliers, crimped them all down... Horn sounds great now, plenty loud, no problems. Just goes to show...

 

> has no trouble starting my bile), ....................

Talk to your doctor about that, I can't help with that one...............

Dave F

 

Ha ha!
Actually has no trouble starting my bile as I keep spending money to get it road-worthy!
But my battery...that has no trouble starting the bike!

 

You can get the same horn that Fritz told you about for $20 cheaper on EBay.
Directly through the company they sock it to you on shipping. I just ordered one myself using the EBay seller.

 

I hope your bike doesn't have ears! :lol:

I'm guessing you have a decibel meter. An audiometer is used to test hearing (I have one of those, though I currently only do screenings).

 

I stand corrected!
The Wifey is an AuD., so it's actually her equipment.
From now on I'll let her do the "splanin'".

 

LOL Tell her "hi" from an SLP.