I have a pair of horns on my 65, and both are now dead.
Has anyone here successfully opened and repaired one? If so, how did you get it back together after cutting the rivets?
Barring no repair on mine, does anyone have a pair laying around that they might part with? They don't have to be 65.
Thanks, Mark
73SC said
Oct 16, 2020
In helping a friend restore his 76 Fleetwood we did just this, got them apart but they never worked again even after trying to repair. We ended up getting two NOS from Ted Holcombe in Philly, they cost a bundle but are real nice.
In helping a friend restore his 76 Fleetwood we did just this, got them apart but they never worked again even after trying to repair. We ended up getting two NOS from Ted Holcombe in Philly, they cost a bundle but are real nice.
Golden Leaf Automotive in Toronto usually have them in stock
seventy2plus2 said
Oct 16, 2020
I'm always on the lookout for working horns for my 1970 Full Size Pontiac's, as they're somewhat tough to find. While the horns themselves are likely the same for many years, it's the brackets that vary from car model to car model.
I watched YouTube video where a guy dismantled a slightly later horn, by using a hardened bit on his Dremel tool to grind the heads of the rivets off. He cleaned everything up, reassembled and it worked great.
I only got as far as disassembling a couple horns, and then got side-tracked with something else. They're around here somewhere.
cdnpont said
Oct 16, 2020
Research tells me that getting the diaphragm completely center in the coil is key. If I do pull them apart, I'd drill two or 3 small holes around the edge, to help align and register it correctly when it goes back together.
Then what would you use to put it all back together? Small machine screws and nuts?
seventy2plus2 said
Oct 16, 2020
Yes, the guy just used machine screws, lock washers & nuts to close them up again. I want to say #8 but don't quote me on that.
73SC said
Oct 16, 2020
While the horns may appear to look alike nothing could be further from the truth. Each car line got diffeent horn notes and options. If you don't care what the sound is then go ahead and use any working ones you find but in the case of the Cadillac it was a factory restoration. We all know that the horns in Buicks and Cadillacs sound like a freighyt train crossing from the era we are discussing, many are 4 notes to get that outstanding effect. I personally grabbed a horn years ago off a 75 Grand Lemans in a salvage yard up north and put it on my LeMans, with three horns it sounds pretty darn scary. Some cars came only with one horn and they sound really whoosey. With horns it is the ground that is all important so as Clint suggests the brackets are all important.
-- Edited by 73SC on Friday 16th of October 2020 11:05:31 PM
1966SD said
Oct 16, 2020
Ive taken several apart and had success getting them back together and working. Inside is basically an electromagnet and a set of points. Ive used aluminium rod to rivet the two halves back together.
jmont64 said
Oct 17, 2020
Looking forward Mark to the tutorial on a horn repair! You are the man to be able to do it. Little easier than transmissions.
Taylor55 said
Oct 17, 2020
The first thing to try is jolting the horn with a full 12 volts from the battery by passing the horn relay. Make sure the horn is well grounded and use a jumper wire from the positive side of the battery. Sometimes this shocks the horn to working again.
Al
cdnpont said
Oct 17, 2020
I've tried that Al. Good clean connections as well. One horn gave a little toot and that was it. The other. Nothing.
Pontiacanada said
Oct 17, 2020
Since your car isn't a faithful restoration, I would just buy a set that looks close to original. You will hardly use the horn to know a tone or octave difference.
cdnpont said
Oct 17, 2020
Come hell or high water, I'll get these working lol!
cdnpont said
Jan 19, 2021
As a update. I've abandoned repairing them. They were a total mess inside when opened. Just not worth the trouble.
I know they are available new from the states, but would anyone have a good working 65-66 pair they'd part with?
a421cat said
Feb 8, 2021
Mark,
I might have a pair but will need to get to the club to check. If I do have working spares they will be off of a Catalina. With the lockdown the club is off limits. Could be a few weeks.
I have a pair of horns on my 65, and both are now dead.
Has anyone here successfully opened and repaired one? If so, how did you get it back together after cutting the rivets?
Barring no repair on mine, does anyone have a pair laying around that they might part with? They don't have to be 65.
Thanks, Mark
In helping a friend restore his 76 Fleetwood we did just this, got them apart but they never worked again even after trying to repair. We ended up getting two NOS from Ted Holcombe in Philly, they cost a bundle but are real nice.
I have some lying around but they are suspect.
Summit seems to have them at low cost. CLICK
www.carhornrestoration.com/proc1.html
I watched YouTube video where a guy dismantled a slightly later horn, by using a hardened bit on his Dremel tool to grind the heads of the rivets off. He cleaned everything up, reassembled and it worked great.
I only got as far as disassembling a couple horns, and then got side-tracked with something else. They're around here somewhere.
Research tells me that getting the diaphragm completely center in the coil is key. If I do pull them apart, I'd drill two or 3 small holes around the edge, to help align and register it correctly when it goes back together.
Then what would you use to put it all back together? Small machine screws and nuts?
While the horns may appear to look alike nothing could be further from the truth. Each car line got diffeent horn notes and options. If you don't care what the sound is then go ahead and use any working ones you find but in the case of the Cadillac it was a factory restoration. We all know that the horns in Buicks and Cadillacs sound like a freighyt train crossing from the era we are discussing, many are 4 notes to get that outstanding effect. I personally grabbed a horn years ago off a 75 Grand Lemans in a salvage yard up north and put it on my LeMans, with three horns it sounds pretty darn scary. Some cars came only with one horn and they sound really whoosey. With horns it is the ground that is all important so as Clint suggests the brackets are all important.
-- Edited by 73SC on Friday 16th of October 2020 11:05:31 PM
Al
I've tried that Al. Good clean connections as well. One horn gave a little toot and that was it. The other. Nothing.
Since your car isn't a faithful restoration, I would just buy a set that looks close to original. You will hardly use the horn to know a tone or octave difference.
Come hell or high water, I'll get these working lol!
As a update. I've abandoned repairing them. They were a total mess inside when opened. Just not worth the trouble.
I know they are available new from the states, but would anyone have a good working 65-66 pair they'd part with?
I might have a pair but will need to get to the club to check. If I do have working spares they will be off of a Catalina. With the lockdown the club is off limits. Could be a few weeks.
Bill.