Re: Adjusting 32's horns

Posted by 32model901 On 2010/12/29 8:43:31

Tbirdman,

My experience has been with external mounted Sparton horns.

You can adjust them for a sweet tone. The Sparton horns have a set of points that can be adjusted to control the movement of the spring steel diaphragm in the horn. There is a small clearance between the iron core connected to the spring steel diaphragm and the iron armature surrounding the core. The iron armature surrounding the core has the copper field windings that drive the iron core up and down as the horn is energized.

Adjusting the points will increase or decrease the movement of the iron core and the horn diaphragm, which will change the horn tone and loudness.

A few things can happen to turn the horn cormorant song into a duck quack;

1. The points have corrosion on them, preventing full movement of the diaphragm.

2. Corrosion can build up between the solenoid and armature, also preventing full movement, but also dampening movement of the diaphragm. Instead of a pure tone that resonates, you get a short tone that doesn't sound quit right.

3. The brackets holding the horns to the radiator shell have multiple thin strips of spring steel in them. Over time these strips either corrode away, or corrode together.

The purpose of these is to isolate the horns from the rest of the car, so the horn vibration doesn't transfer and the horn assembly is allowed movement.

Classic and Exotic in Michigan has a similar one listed on their site. They also have some other good Packard stuff.....

4. The thin spring steel diaphragm is rusty, cracked or has rust holes in it.http://www.classicandexotic.com/store/p-46-klaxon-k-22-k-19-horn-spring-mount.aspx

Regards,

Dave