VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Rebuilding a Klaxon 8C Horn

OK, since i am blasting and paint parts I have completed most of the small general components for the engine. I am moving on to larger assemblies/ components. Horn, Generator, Starter, etc...

Horn is topic of this Discussion:

I have a Klaxon 8C and was wondering about best way to go about rebuilding/ painting it. it works great no issues, but missing paint and such.

Should I:
1- Just rough sand the surface and cone, then apply a few fresh top coats of gloss black paint ??

2- tear it down, strip it to bear metal, prime, paint, cure, reassemble ? and if so anything i should be weary of or know before tearing it apart and breaking it down. looks to be pretty simple in build and components.

Hello BearsFan315,
You say,[I have a Klaxon 8C and was wondering about best way to go about rebuilding/ painting it. it works great no issues, but missing paint and such.]
If it is working great, I would not rebuild it yet.
Go with "Should I" #1, until the horn has working issues, then employ #2.

One thing I suggest is to perform some maintenance on the horn. Put a drop or two of 3-in-1 oil on the motor bearings.

This is an item that is usually overlooked, but doing it will make the horn sound much better and last longer.

Cheers, Dean

Thanks dean will do

Well got home today and started to analyze the horn, there is some rust on the inside of the horn and at the base...

so part it will come, clean, blasted, primed, painted

clean up the guts, oil the bearings, assembly and test :)

hopefully it well look good and sound good !!

Since you're opening it up, don't forget to clean all the electrical connections. The electrons will thank you!

Dean

Well here are some pictures of the Horn as it sits:

Horn 01
Horn 02
Horn 03
Horn 04

now to start tearing it down :)

Gasket Question:

there are 3 gaskets in the horn

1- Two of the same shape, size, & material: one on each side of the diaphragm. One was destroyed on removal, the other one came out in one piece. this is great so that i can replicate and make 2 new ones. what MATERIAL should they be made out of ?? they look like a paper material. I was thinking of using Fel-Pro Karropak but how thick ?? 1/16 or 1/32 or 1/64 ??

2- Gasket between the Mounting Plate with the Electronics & Motorand the rear cap. This one came out whole, but was rolled, looks to be rubber like, black in color. can i use a thin rubber material to make the gasket or what material would be best here.

FYI, here is a Klaxon horn service manual:

http://www.delcoremyhistory.com/Service%20Manuals/klaxon%20horn%201933.htm

Cheers, Dean

Thanks Dean

will print those out and have a look

Good Info, just no Gasket Info :/

Got Parts Primed up, did the Electronics Portion by hand, taped off sections to protect the electronics.
Electronics End Primed

ok, so on to the larger parts:

Pieces ready for Blasting/ Clean Up
Collection
Rusty End

Pieces all Cleaned Up
All Clean 01
Inside Electronics Cover
Rust ALL Gone

Now to Prime & Paint

Well took some time and painted it all Gloss Black

Painted Horn Parts 01
Painted Horn Parts 02
Painted Horn Parts 03
Painted Horn Parts 04
Painted Horn Parts 05

Now to cure, then get new hardware and assembly it all back together

Test and see IF it will still work

Looking good!

Cheers, Dean

Decided to go with some karropak via Fel-Pro at 1/64" thick. this should suffice for the paper gaskets. At least give it a try.

Today's Task:
Make Horn Gaskets
Clean Electronics
Assembly
Test & Tune

Make Horn Gaskets

made the 2 Paper Gaskets using Fel Pro 1/64 Thick Karropak Material, the Rubber Gasket out of Fel Pro 1/32 Thick Rubber-Fiber Material.

Horn Gaskets

Using my Hole Punch, & X-acto Knife, also digitize the templates so i have them for future use, like all my gaskets !!

Clean Electronics

Horn Electronics
Horn Electronics Cleaned Up
Cleaned Up

Cleaned up the Commutator
Oiled the Bearings
Checked all Wiring

Test & Tune

Klaxon 8C Horn Test
Should be a Short video of Horn Working
!! There should be a PLAY button in top right hand corner !!

when dissembled I loosened the adjust screw until the motor turned freely by hand with out resistance or clicking the diaphragm. when completely assembled i turned the adjust knock a few clicks at a time until the horn was at its loudest and not dragging or stalling the motor.

Nice job!!

Jerry, Thanks for the horn rebuild tutorial, this is great !