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Triumph TR6 - Horn Problem

Hi, My wife and I are the proud owners of a '72 TR6.
We are new to the world of Triumph automobiles.
First we'd like to thank Rick Crawford for the help he has given us already.
I have a question which will probably be the first of many. I am having a problem with the horn. It works very very sporatically.

The tests I have undertaken this far are as follows.
1. I have continuity at the harness terminals
where they connect to the horn, also all of the connections on the horn were cleaned.
2. When I wire the horns directly to 12 volts, they work.
3. The horn rectifier connections all seem to be good, however, the rectifier itself makes assorted strange noises when the horn button is depressed.

Do you think the problem could be in the rectifier?
Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rick W.
Rick

Rick W
To many damn Ricks her now. Glad to see Mr. Lucas lives at your home also. Oh ya your welcome... Went and saw Fred @ BAS and got my "fresh off the press" 2001 TRF 2 volumes.
The horns obviously work...but did u connect 2 wires from the battery to the +/- terminals of the horns or did u just run a wire + terminal BAT. to + terminal horn? The first one does not verify the ground of the horns. I suspect u have a bad + or - connection somewhere.The only other places u could have a problem are 1. the relay, 2.the horn push button at the steering wheel, 3. Lucar connectors in between. Or 4. power from the fuse block to the relay.
A quick test for you Rick is press (and hold) the horn..if not working turn the steering wheel and see if it works. If it does then you have a bad connection at the spring loaded brass pin contacting circular brass ring in behind the push button. Check the continuity here ( do not pannic,steering wheel does not have to come off). It is a single purple/Blk wire comming out of the steering column and goes to W1 terminal relay. You could have a faulty relay...not sure how u can check it. Rick one thing u will learn about your new toy is that if something electrical is not working then immediately suspect all connectors and terminals (+and-)to that device (hint hint). It can not be overstressed to use copious amounts of dielectric grease on cleaned connections ( sorry can not tell u where to buy it as I have gotten my grease in the US...can a Canuck help him out here..Cdn Tire?).
Rick, drop me an e-mail off line here and I will fax (or mail) to u an electrical schematic for '72
Are we having fun yet?
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick C.
What is "TRF 2"
Don K>
DON KELLY

DON K
I bet that Rick is talking about the new publications of The Roadster Factory parts catalogs. I wonder if Rick C is retired. He is always helping 'us' new TR buffs that are old in age but young in experience. Without you guys we would be in deep trouble. On second thought, we probably already are with the 'hobby' of restoring.
Bill

I had the same problem. It turned out to be a sporadic "Clear Hooters" original horn and the flexing braided wire connnecting the contact w/ the plunger inside the spring plunger unit was frayed and only making occasional contact. I had to look carefully to see the break which, if I remember, wasn't completely through the wire, just enough to break contact. Remember to put a dab of grease on the sliding end of a new contact or it will make noise. BTW TRF makes a decent set of replacement horns. They are made in China and the workmanship is a bit crude but they look enough like the Clear Hooters, mount correctly and are loud.
Wayne

Thanks for the clarification Bill. Bill they are not exactly new...they are "reprintings" of early 1990s publications. No, not retired just very slow business..hopefully economy gets better soon. I ain,t that far behind ya Bill.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

. The connection from horn button to W1
relay seems ok .
When horns' are grounded conventionally through the harness, and 12volts
is bridged directly to the positive on the horn, the horn works. This
leads me to believe the grounds
on the horn and harness are good. Although my test light shows
continuity at the live end,
I wonder if the horns are not able to draw enough amperage to operate
when wired conventionally. I dont know if this suggests a relay problem.

Rick W
Rick Warren

Rick W
Check your e-mail..I do not think you will mind if I do not type it again here.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

Rick
i had a similar problem last spring ,my 74 had been asleep for some 17 years
i removed the horns and sprayed them with a product known as corroision block
then with a meter adjusted the horns till i got the lowest resistants ,also cleaned
the conectors.
malcolm
malcolm

Hi...I've traced my problem to a bad horn.Thanks to all of you for your help.This forum is priceless to newbies like me and I'm sure I will be back often. Special thanks to Rick C.,for getting me through this in spite of myself with his diagnostic advise.Reminds of another piece of advise I got while trying to fix an old Ducati motorcycle...if you hear hooves think horses not zebras!
Rick W.
Rick W.

This thread was discussed between 12/03/2002 and 14/03/2002

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