problem w/ my horn ...

Anyone out there good w/ Minarelli electrical systems? My horn was kaput for a while and now it has gone on full time. It's not loud or anything like, but it roars at certain speeds and makes the whole thing sound really crappy. At first, I thought I had major engine trouble ... until I realized it was the horn.

Anyone have any idea how I can fix this? I'd rather not simply disconnect the horn unless necessary ... fixing it to work when I press the button (that does nothing currently) would be better. But a horn is no large loss (even if stock) if I can get the anyone sound to stop.

I have a 1977 Bianchi Snark Eagle (if that makes any difference).

Oh, also ... my piston sounds like it's misfiring the last two times I rode it. It did sit out in the snow for a few days (I had to leave it at work until I got a new petcock). So it might just be a bit of moisture that should (!?) work itself out soon. But it could be something worse? It still starts up like a dream and nothing else seems wrong. But I'd rather avoid problems down the road if I can. This tought little ride has made it through one of the worse winters in SW Michigan history ... I'd like her to be in top condition for the Memorial Day race ...

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

gimmiejimmie /

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

Hey Miguel,

That horn, button, or relay might have some corrosion (road salt) in it, give it a shot of old WD and see what happens, you might have to clean all connections.

My neighbors car use to do that when it got real cold, usually at night when everyone was sleeping, I guess it got moisture in it , froze, and made the contacts close, damn if I know.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

gimmiejimmie

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Someone else told me it might be a winter cold thing, too. I hope that's all it is. But man is it ever annoying. It's not really "beeping" like the horn is supposed to (although it's supposed to sound like a duck call of sorts). But the button was not even working before. The horn was disconnected! Now it's honking on its own accord. Bizarre!

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Ron Brown /

Miguel,

Spray some WD40 in your horn button and and work it a lot. The ped need not be running. If the horn button is also an ignition on off switch, as it is on my Motobecane, this may also help your misfire.

Let us know what happens.

Ron

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Thanks! I keep learning new and new uses for WD40! I should start carrying some around w/ me everywhere I go. I've actually found a really small bottle for sale and considered it ...

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Ron Brown /

Miguel,

I just noticed gj sugested the same thing. WD40 is wonderful stuff but buy a big can and soak all electricals, switches, light sockets, any connectors, everything but the points, at least once a year.

I don't know why this would affect a car, but if your ped is wired like my Motobecane, the horn blows because you remove a dead short from one of the alternator windings when you push the button. This leaves the horn with 12 volts across it becaus it is connected all the time. So if my horn contacts corrode, the less they conduct, the louder the horn blows.

The button can also be turned to kill the engine. When I do that, it also unshorts the horn power and if I try to start, the horn blows at pedalling speed!

Ron

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Ron Brown /

AHA!

The plot thickens!

Now you know why good info helps!

If the horn button is disconnected, you may as well piss on it, it will make no difference, however, check my other post for how my horn works. You may have had power to it all the time but it just now started to blow.

The obvious solution is to disconnect the horn but I can't help feeling that the dead short on my alternator instead of an open, when the horn is not blowing, must have a purpose.

It obviously loads the engine to generate power and then dump it to ground so is this protecting the alternator from developing too high a voltage when open cicuit?

Anyone out there know?

Ron

Re: problem w/ my horn ...

Well, my horn is not an on/off switch. So that's not a real consideration, I think. Pressing it does nothing to the engine. The button is an old stock Italian button next to the light switch (on/off) for the headlights (this also does nothing to kill the engine).

The horn used to blow non-stop when I first got the moped. Then it stopped. I think someone fixed it for me, but I can't remember now. Anyhow, suddendly it started working again lately. I'm not sure about the cold, since it was MUCH colder earlier and no horn blowing. It's also not because my tail light died (that was MUCH earlier). So ... why suddenly? I have no clue.

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