79-80 Horn Inop

[Samelak]

I finally found an early style CBX horn, but it does not work. I can hear clicking, but no beep-beep. How do I get it to work again?

[ajs350]

It may just be bad connections to the horn switch. To find out connect the horn directly to the battery. If it works you know its connections and you can work backwards cleaning all of the connections from the 2 horn spades through to the horn button.
If you still get the clickking when connected to the battery try adjusting the screw that is on the rear of the horn. Turning one way or the other should get you a beep.

[Kool_Biker]

Actually, there are TWO screws directly affecting operation AND performance of the horn.
Begin by playing with the one suggested above.

If unsuccessful or if you are not satisfied with the tone and power emitted, do note there is also a big screw and nut, holding the horn to its mounting bracket. This is just visible in the pic above.

Get the horn off the bike and on to your bench. Put on some earplugs and connect a battery, or much better, a current limited power supply set at 12 V and ~3 A.

Undo the nut (I think it is 21mm) and then turn the screw with a flat screwdriver slowly, in or out. You will find it affects operation hugely.

The fact that you hear clicking is very good news. Play with it, I think you will get there. In my case I had to set the horn going with the big screw, then adjusted for maximum power and clarity of sound with the little one.

Do not forget to tighten both very well when you finish.

Cheers, Aris

[Samelak]

I got it to work. I had to adjust the little screw to find the "sweet" spot to get some sound other than clicking and then adjusted the big scew for loudness.

[ajs350]

Well you are 2 for 2 so it's a good day in Japan!
Send us some pics of your X!
Ross

[NobleHops]

Props to Ross and Aris, my horn went wonky, and so I replaced the rusty phillips adjusting screw with a nice stainless socket head screw, replaced the rusty screws around the perimeter with stainless, tightened it all up, adjusted it on the bench, cleaned and dielectric-greased the contacts and reinstalled it and it is working better then ever.

Thanks for the clear and simple tutorial.

N.