Horn(s) Questions

B

bbwhitejr

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2013
4,304
Lake Lanier GA
Boat Info
2003 420DA, 6CTAs
Engines
NA
Getting around to working on my dual trumpet horns mounted in the starboard anchor locker. Originally I thought the easiest access would be to pull the boat bow forward into the slip and stand on the dock and bend over into the locker. However, after installing an anchor stop today, it looks easier to lay on the bow to access them. I replaced the little compressor last year to no avail. The horns look gunky and after reading what I can find on here, I think the solution is to remove them, disassemble, and clean them good.

My first question is this….the horns are each mounted in what looks like a black plastic square. There is a screw in each corner and each horn is mounted 45 degrees to each black square. In this configuration, the 4th screw is behind the horn and inaccessible unless….when I remove the tubing for the air, will the horn turn or rotate in the black plate? Any advice or experiences may save this from being an all day job.
Thanks,

Bennett
 
Removed the horns today, piece of cake compared to most boat projects. The dual horns are two different lengths…one 3 inches or so than the other. Took the rear end apart and cleaned the thin clear plastic reed and the shorter one works perfect. However, the barrel of the longer one has a split in it about 3/4s of the length. Cannot imagine how this happened. No way water filled up as they are open to the vent in the hull and are mounted at about a 45* angle. Anyways, a new set ordered today….

Bennett
 
Very interested in your horn repair. I have same boat, but previous owner must have had a horn issue, and instead of repair he put an electric horn on the hard top. I would like to get the factory horn working so I can use the hard to spot for an antenna. Was your compressor behind the forward stateroom tv?
 
Chuck Heaton said:
Very interested in your horn repair. I have same boat, but previous owner must have had a horn issue, and instead of repair he put an electric horn on the hard top. I would like to get the factory horn working so I can use the hard to spot for an antenna. Was your compressor behind the forward stateroom tv?
Click to expand...

Just finished the install today and now have working air horns. The compressor is behind the TV in the MSR. I originally replaced it 6 months ago and still no horns. I removed the old horns last week and one longer of the two had a split in it almost the entire length of the brass tube. I took the shorter one apart, cleaned the clear plastic reed and it worked well. However, they do not sell just the longer one, only the shorter one. So, ordered the pair and installed today. Lay down on the starboard deck, open the starboard anchor hatch, and they are right in front of you at arms length. Pull the hoses off and have someone push the button and see if you have air flow. If not, a couple drops of oil in the compressor may bring it back to life. When you buy the horn set, it comes with a new compressor on Amazon.

Bennett
 
Chuck Heaton said:
Very interested in your horn repair. I have same boat, but previous owner must have had a horn issue, and instead of repair he put an electric horn on the hard top. I would like to get the factory horn working so I can use the hard to spot for an antenna. Was your compressor behind the forward stateroom tv?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update. I have noise and some air flow from my compressor to the horns. Not enough to make noise though. Took horns off and cleaned a little. Then shot some compressed air in and they both seem to work fine. I guess I will try putting some oil in the existing compressor and see if that wakes it up. If you have a moment would you mind sending info on the horn and compressor you bought from amazon? I have pretty low confidence in the compressor I have working. Thank you
 
Chuck Heaton said:
Thanks for the update. I have noise and some air flow from my compressor to the horns. Not enough to make noise though. Took horns off and cleaned a little. Then shot some compressed air in and they both seem to work fine. I guess I will try putting some oil in the existing compressor and see if that wakes it up. If you have a moment would you mind sending info on the horn and compressor you bought from amazon? I have pretty low confidence in the compressor I have working. Thank you
Click to expand...

Here is the link to the compressor for the horns. It fits in the mounting bracket that you already have, same hook ups, etc.

https://www.amazon.com/AFI-10102-Re...0675&sprefix=marinco+compressor,aps,64&sr=8-1

If you decide you want or need a new compressor, I will sell you the one I just received with my horn set for a good price. I had already replaced my compressor and then got a new one with the horn set. PM me if you are interested.

Bennett
 
More than likely your compressor is fine but your horns need to be disassembled and cleaned well. If you go behind the TV where the compressor is mounted, just pull the tube off and have someone hit the horn button at the helm. If compressor fires up and you can feel air discharge out then your compressor is fine. Then the problem lies in either the tubing being clogged or the horns need cleaning. You can simply blow into the horns and hear the full sound of your horns when they are cleaned up.
 
Just saw this thread and appreciate the info! Where did you purchase the horns from? I am getting air to the horns but just getting faint sound. Tried cleaning horns but didn’t solve issue.
 
I had the same issue. The compressor requires maintenance by putting a couple of drops of oil in to it via the nipple that the air tube connects to. Simply pull the air hose, put the oil down in the nipple, replace the tube and hit the switch a couple of times. Worked for me. Good luck!
 
David Monacelli said:
Just saw this thread and appreciate the info! Where did you purchase the horns from? I am getting air to the horns but just getting faint sound. Tried cleaning horns but didn’t solve issue.
Click to expand...
When you say "tried cleaning horns"....you need to take them out, disassemble them and wash them. Most important is washing the clear plastic disk to remove all salt and other crud caked on. Once cleaned and reassembled you should be able to blow into each one and hear the full sound. There's really not much more to a horn than that.
 
brewster16 said:
When you say "tried cleaning horns"....you need to take them out, disassemble them and wash them. Most important is washing the clear plastic disk to remove all salt and other crud caked on. Once cleaned and reassembled you should be able to blow into each one and hear the full sound. There's really not much more to a horn than that.
Click to expand...
 
I took them apart, I cleaned everything really good, including the plastic pieces inside the horns. I put them back together and I blew air through them and they worked. I reattached them to the boat and hooked everything back up. I hit the horn button once and they worked. I hit the horn button again and I got nothing again. Thoughts?
 
I took them apart, I cleaned everything really good, including the plastic pieces inside the horns. I put them back together and I blew air through them and they worked. I reattached them to the boat and hooked everything back up. I hit the horn button once and they worked. I hit the horn button again and I got nothing again. Thoughts?
 
Good job on cleaning the horns. And NOW you KNOW the horns are fine. Now you need to work through what's left in your system to figure out what the problem may be......and there are only 2 things left. Have someone go down to the master stateroom while you hit the horn button on the helm. They should hear the pump sound of the air compressor (behind the TV) come on each time you hit the horn. The other possibility is a clogged air line out to the horns. Simply disconnect them from the compressor and manually blow into them. If resistance and no horn sound, you're clogged.
 
brewster16 said:
Good job on cleaning the horns. And NOW you KNOW the horns are fine. Now you need to work through what's left in your system to figure out what the problem may be......and there are only 2 things left. Have someone go down to the master stateroom while you hit the horn button on the helm. They should hear the pump sound of the air compressor (behind the TV) come on each time you hit the horn. The other possibility is a clogged air line out to the horns. Simply disconnect them from the compressor and manually blow into them. If resistance and no horn sound, you're clogged.
Click to expand...

Also, the little compressor needs a drop or two of light machine oil ever so often ~every 6 months. Disconnect the clear plastic hose, put a couple drops of oil in it, and try again. I bet this is the issue.

Bennett
 
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