Horn

[CarlLaFong]

I'm trying to get my EA horn to work. I've torn it down and cleaned it all up. When I hook it up, it spins, but seems very slow. The armature is arcing, which I assume is not good. Also, the wires get very hot. Obviously, I have a short, somewhere. I guess I need to find a parts horn or an armature, at the least. I coud probably rewind the field coils, doesn't look to be too hard. The armature might be more of a challenge, though what have I got to loose?? Anyone ever done one or does anyone have a stash of horn parts? I'm a tightwad and I ain't gonna pay 200 bucks for a horn

[SeaSlugs]

Did you clean up the comutator? make sure theres a gap between all the copper pads? like REALLY make sure? I find they kind of "smear" and can touch one another. Can also smear so much and when tryign to clean them they get the groove packed full of copper dust. I use a very thin pen xacto knife to clean them out very carefully.

[CarlLaFong]

The commutator seems good, so I just sprayed it with WD-40 and blew everything dry. I'll have a closer look tomorrow. The arcing, in the armature itself, seems uncool but I am no electrical guru. I know that some arcing/sparking at the brushes is normal

[Tom Wesenberg]

Slip a piece of paper under each brush, so the brush doesn't make contact with the armature commutator. Now use an ohm meter or continuity tester to see if you have a connection between the commutator and armature shaft. It needs to be open. If this checks OK, then with the paper still in place check each horn contact terminal to the motor frame to make sure they are also open (no contact). There should be an insulating washer on each side of the frame where the screw goes through to hold the brush.

[CarlLaFong]

I have to run to Wally World tomorrow and get a battery for my meter, then I'll check it out. Thanks

[SeaSlugs]

Slip a piece of paper under each brush, so the brush doesn't make contact with the armature commutator. Now use an ohm meter or continuity tester to see if you have a connection between the commutator and armature shaft. It needs to be open. If this checks OK, then with the paper still in place check each horn contact terminal to the motor frame to make sure they are also open (no contact). There should be an insulating washer on each side of the frame where the screw goes through to hold the brush.

yes - also ive seen so much carbon brush dust in there it starts shorting out. i used an air nozzle and simple green to clean it out - fyi carb cleaner and brake clean may eat the shelac of the maginet wire...might use a toothbrush and simple green to really clean it up.

i had to use one of those round lighted magnifying glasses to see down in the grooves to clean them out.

[Rowdy]

I have saved a couple of armeratures by flooding the armerature windings with Glyptol. Have also had a few rewound. The person who rewound them for me no longer rewinds them. Unsure who is rewinding them now. Rod