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Problem with my horn!

Discussion in 'Motorcycle Tech Talk' started by Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011.

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  1. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Hi all, I put a used 1996 OEM H-D horn on my 1983 FXE.
    Now the horn works but there's a delay of about 1 second when I push the button. I had to splice in the ground wire because the old wire was too short.
    Any idea why the delay? Does the newer horn draw too much power or could the ground wire I put on be too thin?
    I bench tested the horn and it works fine so I'm sure the horn works fine and is not the problem.
    Thanks guys!
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #1
  3. cowboy

    cowboy Moderator Staff Member

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    Might be just a dirty button , or the ground you added
    cowboy, Apr 18, 2011
    #2
  4. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    What Cowboy said plus did you add a horn relay to it?
    FLHTbiker, Apr 18, 2011
    #3
  5. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    No horn relay. Never had one, Do I need one?
    Would a bad ground create that delay effect?
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #4
  6. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    A bad switch could I would think a bad ground just wouldn't work. Horn relay will give the horn full battery power when energized.
    FLHTbiker, Apr 18, 2011
    #5
  7. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    I will try it. What type of relay?
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #6
  8. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Good old 4 post relay
    any auto parts store has them

    Direct power to one post, then from it's opposite to the unit
    Switch power to the other,
    Grounds.

    Basically the switch operates and closes the circuit on the relay
    allowing power to go straight to the horn without having to go through
    the switch.

    Easier on the switch, more power to the horn.

    [​IMG]
    hotroadking, Apr 18, 2011
    #7
  9. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    I know how a relay works. Thanks for the info and picture.
    I learned all about them while troubleshooting my starter solenoid.
    Are you thinking it's not getting enough ampererage thru the switch itself and that's causing a delay?
    Do 1996 H-D's come with a horn relay?
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #8
  10. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Good that you understand relays, most horns have a relay on them, my air horn does,

    You know how a meter works right?

    put your meter on the power feed wire to the horn
    and press button to check voltage, if you see a drop then either the switch or the wires
    are bleeding off power.

    You should check grounds, bad or loose grounds could cause this as well.

    If you don't then it's probably the horn itself.
    hotroadking, Apr 18, 2011
    #9
  11. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    It's not the horn, I tested it directly on the battery.
    If the ground is insuffienct will the voltage drop while on the multimeter? Or will the voltage reading go up with a bad ground?
    I'm pretty sure it's the ground wire I installed. The old horn had the flat braided type of ground wire. The kind cars have to gound the hood and engine block to the body of the car. I used a regular 16gauge round twisted braided wire for the new gound. I'm thinking it doesn't allow enough groundage amp flow to work instantly like it should.
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #10
  12. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    When you use a meter you'll bypass
    the ground wire, using the meter wires, Pos and neg

    Touch the meter - to the same spot you are
    connecting your ground, not the new wire,
    the bolt see if you get a good reading, if not
    move it around to find where you get
    best reading.

    The place you have selected isn't allowing a good
    ground connection or, the wire isn't good.

    Finally run the + to the output from the switch to horn
    then touch the meter ground to your wire and see what the reading is.

    If you get better reading at the bolt than the wire. fix the wire


    it's always the ground...
    hotroadking, Apr 18, 2011
    #11
  13. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Oh I understand. I am basically checking the ground wire to see if it gives the same reading as the bolt it comes from. If they are different than the wire is bad.?!?
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #12
  14. shovelRob

    shovelRob New Member

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    I half expected a photo in here of somebody flipping the bird in traffic because their horn was broke.

    I never ran a horn because I like to keep the wiring simple enough I can understand it without a diagram. And I couldn't figure out where to put the relay. Ran it without a relay years ago and it was a weak squeak. Last year I added a horn, relay, and wiring and it works well. In my garage, anyway. Probably be good when the shovel hits the road as well.
    shovelRob, Apr 18, 2011
    #13
  15. Tommyc

    Tommyc Active Member

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    Good one ShovelRob!!! Funny!
    I got 2 shovels myself. Have you ever had a horn problem like I am having?
    Tommyc, Apr 18, 2011
    #14
  16. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    You can also take your ground directly to the neg. side of the battery and try it and if its working fine than you'll know.
    FLHTbiker, Apr 18, 2011
    #15
  17. Fatboy128

    Fatboy128 Well-Known Member

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    :drunk:If there are any knots in the wires the electrical molecules get slowed down and that could delay them from getting to the device in time.
    Fatboy128, Apr 18, 2011
    #16
  18. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    very true!!!!!!! and be sure ya dont let any of the smoke out......wont work with out the smoke.................:)
    chucktx, Apr 18, 2011
    #17
  19. FLHTbiker

    FLHTbiker Moderator Staff Member

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    Take the wires off and turn them around so the electricity can flow the other way, less restrictions in reverse. :D
    FLHTbiker, Apr 18, 2011
    #18
  20. chucktx

    chucktx Moderator Staff Member

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    we bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..................................we bad!!!!
    chucktx, Apr 18, 2011
    #19
  21. hotroadking

    hotroadking Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Yeah that's the test ignore these guys they really don't have motorcycles they ride vespas to walmart for coffee


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    hotroadking, Apr 18, 2011
    #20
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