How Motorcycle Horns Work And Why They Fail

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*Always follow the instructions in your repair manual when doing repair or maintenance work on a motorcycle. Manuals can be found at the dealer and online.*
Over time motorcycle horns will fail because corrosion developes on the contact points inside the horn. This prevents currect from flowing through the contact points and the copper coil of wire used to make the electro magnet. In this video I show how the horn works, and why it fails.
Thanks for watching!

[@bizb8742]

Your instruction is great. I drilled an access port above the electrical plug terminals, accessed and cleaned the points and got a 1971 Suzuki horn to work again! I made a small rubber plug to seal the access port in case I ever need to do it again. This saved me some money and I got to keep the original 50 year old horn for originality's sake. Thank you sir!

[@shamusokingsley2412]

I really appreciated the clear and simple way you diagnosed the problem and explained how the horn works.

[@kalananissanka]

I have a couple of horns in my bike. It's a Japanese one and sounds perfectly. It cannot be disassembled. I'm facing the same problem frequently after horns exposed to rain. What I am doing is first remove the adjustment screw on the back side of the horn. Then spray some WD 40 into horn via the screw hole. Then shake it well and keep it about 10 minutes. Then the corrosion removes. Turn down the horn and drain WD 40 via the screw hole. If it's not draining shake it until no residues remains. You'll see corroded parts are draining. Then replace the adjustment screw. Spray some less WD 40 into the front diaphragm through the gap between front metal disc. It will remove the corrosion in the spring and lubricate the spring and the moving points. Now check it! This is a fine solution.

[@gambini_modding]

Excellent info!! I also managed to fix my horn by watching this vid. I replaced the ribets for bolts and it works again.

[@mariodesaulniers1239]

Explications is perfect, Thank you

[@Dockboy90]

Thanks for the great vid! The ring on mine is riveted, so I just drilled them out to replace with bolts, but had no idea how the horn itself worked - now I do!

[@micahengum]

Thank you for putting this video together. I was able to fix my boat horn after watching it. In my case, the contacts were fine (though I still cleaned them). But being a marine horn of a certain age, it had gaskets between on either side of the diaphragm that had collapsed over time which was enough to have the "trigger" always in contact with the "point arm". New gaskets gave it proper spacing and I'm back on the road, as it were.

[@smallengineshop]

Good the hear!

[@1flamaster]

Nice, I have an old german bike from '58 and the horn stopped to work. I couldn't find anywhere explanation how it should work so couldn't fix it. At least now I know how to approach. Thanks.

[@2WheelLifestyle]

Great explanation, I loved it, believe it or not.

[@playfullburito]

Thanks for the vid. I have the same bike but an 84. Was trying to figure out the problem. So thanks for the help.

[@stevenolsen6360]

yes i agree with blazzer brass, you completely missed half of the operation of the horn, #1 - it does not need to be pulled apart to fix, #2 - the screw with nut is the fix, always, my horn on my wedding cars gets a lot of work, and i have fixed it with the adjusting- tuning screw , 6 times, ,,, here is what you missed.... insert ear plugs, loosening the nut under the screw- frees the screw for movement, .. with the 12v power on, you winding the screw out- allowing the top contact to always stay connected the the bottom contact- thus max - un breaking current, - ONE pull of the magnet, and NO SOUND, then you wind "in" the screw until it allow separation of the contacts- horn is sounding, then 1/4 - 1/2 turn more for operation, re-tighten the nut, SO one horn will thus last the life of your bike- cars -truck- wedding car

[@Elmobeaver]

Thanks for your informative video. I am currently working on similar horn and the information in your video is very helpful.

[@cawag98]

Excellent video - I came here looking for why my car horn stopped working. Car horns operate under the same principle, except they have a plastic megaphone added to the same basic apparatus. Too bad they can't be opened without wrecking. Maybe someone here has a neat way of opening them. My MB horn was replaced, with used OEM for only $8 including shipping, so it's not a financial burden, but is irksome when it could likely be done easily if we could open the device.

[@jovaniechristianamerica5821]

Nice informative video contents you have. I have a question about my horn on my motorcycle. Everytime I use my motorcycle, my horn is not beeping loud. My battery is good, and I have a voltmeter for monitoring. I am using bosch fc2.

[@MidBoss]

I had no idea this is how horns work, thanks!

[@smallengineshop]

MidBoss Thanks for watching!

[@mujtaba135]

Thank you very much . your video is really help full to me . And now i fix up my horns .. All regards goes to you..

[@fidelcatsro6948]

wow simple 5dollar item with fascinating workings of a cross breed from an electric oscillator and a bedini ssg radiant energy switching device possibly even a potential rumkhoff coil electric voltagr multiplier, this thing reminds me of the wonders of electromagnetism and its possible interaction with the aether...great video by the way!

[@nihonbunka]

Fascinating. I would have been even better to have a demonstration of the horn being sounded. One can get this type of horn cheaply online from aliexpress (about $5) and I am thinking of wiring one up to a battery pack on my bicycle.

[@smallengineshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@mattfoley6082]

Remove horn's adjustment screw and spray in contact cleaner. Try this before anything else. Worked for me.

[@praj7053]

very good presentation. thank you.

[@propdoctor21564]

Excellent video

[@ericmassey3102]

Your videos are very informative thanks. I have a different horn issue. Mine won't shut off. Went riding and did not even touch the button but the horn started blaring and I had to remove one of the wires to make it stop. Suggestions?

[@smallengineshop]

Check the horn switch

[@BlazerBrass]

What is the purpose of the screw that is not fully threaded into it's hole? Seems like some kind of an adjustment can be made by screwing it in/out.

[@spelunkerd]

Nicely explained.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

wonder how high the frequency its buzzing at, i read somewhere you can split water into its component molecules if you can buzz it at over 20,000hz uhf, hmmm?

[@kino266]

good video

[@electricamir248]

I saw Nikko brand on amazon which look like replacements for your style bike. Made in Japan.

[@jeffrt3893]

I have a question. I have an old Yamaha CT3, which is a 6 volt system. I found a new old stock 6 volt horn made by Sakura, not specific to my bike. The wires are red and blue on the new horn. My old horn has a red and a brown wire. Must I match up red with red? I am asking because the male/female quick connects are opposite of the old horn. So, if I don't change the quick connects around, the new horn's red wire would connect to the black wire on my bike, and blue with the red wire on my bike.

[@aliwhitwell]

Great video. Thanks. Luckily my horn is able to be disassembled. Now I gotta see what's wrong!

[@jayjaytherayray3847]

Would this concept work for a 1959 cj5 willy's jeep horn that got water in it?

[@gerardmaroney3918]

Thank you.

[@roncooke2188]

I have one i have got it working but when i re-assemble it's not working, all very clean inside any help please

[@Tj1056]

is it possible for the horn to make noise from vibrations even with it not plugged in?

[@crzy.zy97]

In these types of horns a capacitor type thing is also there, can I know what is that

[@roncooke2188]

got it working ok then when i assemble it stops working any ideas please

[@SahilKumar-jh9es]

how to open and which tool use please advise

[@udizzy1969]

great job on the info.. cool bro

[@buzzbuzzbuzzuhms6899]

Nice bike

[@kengoldberg9558]

Nicely done. Thanks.

[@smallengineshop]

Ken Goldberg Thanks for watching!

[@froylanobeso678]

Please, send a link where you get that new horns, Blessings !!

[@bonapartefindsya5373]

I bought a 6v motorcycle horn for a science assignment. When I run 6v through it, I can see the diaphragm moving and can hear that its engaging but there is no sound. Why is there no sound? Its a brand new horn.

[@ottard]

It might be wort it to drill a hole in the back and fill the horn with contact spray. Then work the diaphragm with your fingers, and hope for the best!

[@99RoushFan]

Function sounds a lot like a flasher unit.

[@sooryadevk9797]

👍

[@sreenuvasu3550]

🤝

[@SkahmedSkahmed-vp1bo]

Amejeen

[@alistairstuart2009]

horns are a standard part are they not? a 12v horn should fit most bikes

[@marioekka7590]

RAHUL l