Can you hear me now?...dead horn

Dirt_Dad

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Virginia requires an annual vehicle inspection, and it was time for my Tenere this month. Quick check before before leaving home, everything works. 15 minutes later the inspector has just completed front lights and turn signals and is moving to the back of the bike. He asks me to hit the horn...nothing. 5 or 6 more hits...nothing.

With the bike shutdown you can hear a faint tone every time the button is pushed. The inspector suggested it will work fine by the time I get it home. He was 100% correct. Home... beep, beep, beep...sounded completely normal.

Go inside the house to tell Dirt Mom about it, she found it hard to believe since she heard it work perfectly before I left. Go back out, try it again, only a faint tone now. Quick check with the meter, it's getting 12v every time the button is pushed. Same as the wife's Tenere when I do the same check.

My horn is dead. I didn't know that was possible.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Actually just last month it got a good workout from the kids at The Potomac Center while at the Romney Camp N Ride. Lots of beeping going on, never a problem. Of course before that it would go months and months without making a peep.
 

EricV

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Not uncommon. Spray a little WD40 into the horn flanges or some penetrating oil if the WD40 doesn't work. Sometimes it's just crud in between the parts, other times a little, (or a lot) of corrosion. Do this before you spend money on a new horn.
 

Sierra1

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Once a month?! ??? Y'all must have courteous drivers where you live. My horn gets "tested" every time I go into town. ::025::
 

Dirt_Dad

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EricV said:
Not uncommon.
Interesting, with all the bikes I've owned I've never experienced a horn issue.

After CutterBill said the word "freeze" I thought it was worth going out an beating on it with the handle of a screwdriver. It's working perfectly again.

I'll try the WD-40 thing as well.

Thanks for the ideas.
 

ace50

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Sierra1 said:
Once a month?! ??? Y'all must have courteous drivers where you live. My horn gets "tested" every time I go into town. ::025::
I might use my horn (air horn at that) maybe once a year, and I commute through town too!
 

CutterBill

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Sierra1 said:
Once a month?! ??? Y'all must have courteous drivers where you live. My horn gets "tested" every time I go into town. ::025::
My personal riding strategy is to never put myself someplace where I need a horn.

As for courteous drivers, every time I get on the freeway, I'm shocked at how polite everyone is. Even in rush hour traffic, they move over to let me by. (Remember... California... lane splitting is legal.) I dunno, maybe they think I'm a cop with the big bike, bright blue jacket and white helmet. ;D
 

Sierra1

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CutterBill said:
My personal riding strategy is to never put myself someplace where I need a horn...

::026:: "Ounce of prevention, being better than a pound of cure". BUT....In the town that I drive in most....population is 40k, and it is #2 in the state for vehicle crashes. (per capita; Houston is #1) No logical explanation. ???
 

bigbob

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wolo 310-2t loud one horn - 12 volt, low tone

Got this one from Amazon for $13. Direct replacement for stock but way louder.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Well it happened again. Three day ride though WV and had to get my wife to beep at the deer running down middle of the road.

I bought the Wolo 310-2t. Not exactly a plug and play, but once I make a wire or two shouldn't be much of an effort.

What I'm wondering is do I need to install a relay for this horn? They recommend a minimum 10amp fuse. The manual does not indicate the horn fuse.

Horn specs: 12v, 4-amp.

So, anyone know if this needs a relay?
 

EricV

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Yes, a relay would be a good idea for the Wolo. Run the normal horn wires to the relay on one side, the new fused wire direct from the battery to the other side of the relay and a new ground wire to the relay. The original wires will be the 'trigger' side and only hot when key is on, so the horn won't work w/o the key on. The new ground and 12v from the batt will be the power for the Wolo. An inline fuse will work fine for this. If you need me to tell you which numbers on the relay go where, just say the word and I'll add that info. Too lazy to go to the garage right now. :)
 

Dirt_Dad

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Thanks, Eric. You confirmed what I suspected. I'll get around to it.

I actually ordered 2 horns (my DR650 horn died, too). The other one will be plug and play. I'll throw that one in the bike so I can do the state insprection. Then I'll decided if I want to bother with the Wolo, or just get another plug and play.
 

U.P.rider

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My "squeaker" is on it's way out and not sure if I want to spend the $$'s for a dual hi/ lo horn setup or just replace with a stock unit. Not much need for it around here except to beep and wave hello to someone who won't recognize me on the "new" bike.:cool:
 

Dirt_Dad

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So far I've spent a total of $15 on two Wolo horns. I found most of the horn relay wire kits are set up for two horns. My intention is to use only one on each bike, but I'll experiment and see if I like two...and if they'll both fit.
 
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