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Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:24 am

Happy monday!

My horn on the bus went out, and even though I got a replacement, it still sounds pretty weak. I would like my horn to actually get people's attention when I need it.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a 6 volt replacement for a really loud horn?

thanks!

Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:59 am

I have run 6V horns on both 6V and 12V buses. They are particularly strident if run on 12V, but plenty strong on 6V.
I would try testing it directly with a battery charger. If it sounds better that way, I would double check the connections, particularly at the horn button. Removing the horn button and gently sanding the inside of the wheel with fine sandpaper where the button grounds to it helps.

On the older horns with the screws round the edge, I have sometimes got them to work by dissembling and cleaning connections inside. Then I have to turn the adjustment screw on the outside near the wire connections to set the sound how I like it. The adjustment screw was painted over or kind of filled with stuff, I had to excavate it. This probably makes no sense. :lol:

Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:01 pm

6V on a 12V here..def. gets someones attention.. :shock:

Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:06 pm

Have you tried this?
Here is a website for "Hella 6V Horn (B31VW1-6V) repair and maintenance": http://www2.lut.fi/~hosia/horns.html

Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:25 pm

I have a horn relay installed. Horn button on wheel connects relay coil to ground. Other side of coil is connected to +12v. relay contacts connect horn to 12v. Other end of horn is connected to ground. Works better, and saves horn button from arcing.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:09 pm

Clara wrote:
On the older horns with the screws round the edge, I have sometimes got them to work by dissembling and cleaning connections inside. Then I have to turn the adjustment screw on the outside near the wire connections to set the sound how I like it. The adjustment screw was painted over or kind of filled with stuff, I had to excavate it. This probably makes no sense. :lol:

That's what I was able to do. I knew the power was good. Cleaned up the contacts and it had some movement. Finally I adjusted the screw and it is now very loud.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:23 pm

Banzai KG wrote: Have you tried this?
Here is a website for "Hella 6V Horn (B31VW1-6V) repair and maintenance": http://www2.lut.fi/~hosia/horns.html

thanks for posting this!

Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:53 pm

mynameismud wrote: 6V on a 12V here..def. gets someones attention.. :shock: X2 :shock: :shock:

Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:05 pm

I biffed & beffed up mine by adding another horn. Bus still had a 6V horn after being converted to 12V. I had a 12V horn from a bug I used to own so I put it on next the 6V horn and wired the two of them together. Very loud now. I also have a growler type horn under the splash pan for fun to shooo the skateboarders and bicyclists out of the way.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:43 pm

My bus has a 12V horn but I suppose it could use some beffing. First, though, I am wondering what a beffier horn would sound like...

Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:37 pm

Major Woody wrote: My bus has a 12V horn but I suppose it could use some beffing. First, though, I am wondering what a beffier horn would sound like... A Heffer horn is way different from a Bull horn (12 or 6v) :roll:

Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:51 am

I put an aftermarket, Chinese made, 6V horn on my '61 (6V system). It wasn't very loud and eventually stopped working all together. I bought a new Hella 6V horn and it works great, right out of the box!

Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:19 pm

Major Woody wrote: My bus has a 12V horn but I suppose it could use some beffing. First, though, I am wondering what a beffier horn would sound like...
doooooood! That shit would beff up!