Wondering what everyone has for air horns. I'll start off-the only horn originally was a normal 2 tone electric car horn with button in the middle of the steering wheel-which still works! Since I'm an old truck driver, wanted some air horns-but something different. Grover air horn company is here in L.A. I bought two of the double air horns with 19" and 17" bells. I had them cut the one set down to 15" and 13". Now I had two sets of double air horns. Mounted them in the center side by side on the roof in front and plumbed them with two pull valve above the driver's seat with a chain looped between them. I tee'd into the air supply for the air seat. Now I can blow the high one, or the low one separately or pull down for both for a nice 4 tone blast.
But-I decided that wasn't enough. On my truck I had a set of Buell 4 tone train horns for trucks (plastic bodies) that are very loud. On my bus, I mounted them underneath the front right, in a pocket just ahead of the stairs pointing down. I have an electric solenoid with the push button next to the pull chain for the other air horns. This is also tee'd into the air seat, with quick release.
The seat quick release is also where I attach my air hose for filling tires. Good Luck, TomC
Quote from: TomC on January 28, 2018, 08:13:54 AMWondering what everyone has for air horns. I'll start off-the only horn originally was a normal 2 tone electric car horn with button in the middle of the steering wheel-which still works! Since I'm an old truck driver, wanted some air horns-but something different. Grover air horn company is here in L.A. I bought two of the double air horns with 19" and 17" bells. I had them cut the one set down to 15" and 13". Now I had two sets of double air horns. Mounted them in the center side by side on the roof in front and plumbed them with two pull valve above the driver's seat with a chain looped between them. I tee'd into the air supply for the air seat. Now I can blow the high one, or the low one separately or pull down for both for a nice 4 tone blast.
But-I decided that wasn't enough. On my truck I had a set of Buell 4 tone train horns for trucks (plastic bodies) that are very loud. On my bus, I mounted them underneath the front right, in a pocket just ahead of the stairs pointing down. I have an electric solenoid with the push button next to the pull chain for the other air horns. This is also tee'd into the air seat, with quick release.
The seat quick release is also where I attach my air hose for filling tires. Good Luck, TomC
Is the quick release so that you can detach air from going to the Buell horns, sort of as an emergency kill-switch???
I have the stock air horns in the compartment under the driver's seat. The button is on the floor. I rarely use them, but if I have to, usually for someone cutting me off, they are loud.
We still have them in the late model coaches I drive. Button on steering wheel, with a toggle switch on the dash to choose from electric or air horn. I use them even more rarely. It spooks the passengers. Driving a charter group is all about being smooth and patient.
JC
As has been found for many things on the transit bus I converted, the quick release on the floor connecting the driver's seat was there. I assume it was there to be able to disconnect the air seat in case of air leak. It was convenient to add my two sets of air horns to it, and also be able to use it for air hose attachment.
My Prevost came with a couple of chrome horns mounted on the roof and connected into the auxilliary through a couple of electric valves on the side dash. A high and low. Unfortunately, when I replaced the ceiling in the driver's compartment, I pinched one of the air lines up there and now it leaks when I hit that button. Horn still blows, but not like it should. The high one works fine, so I know exactly where the leak is. In fact, when I push the button I can hear the air whistle up in the ceiling. One of these days I'll fix it. It's just that the ceiling looks so good I hate to pull it back apart. Stained wood w/walnut cross members, a couple of marine lights, and speakers mounted in it. Will probably never go back together the same if I pull it apart. ???
Will
I like using mine in a tunnel if there aren't any vehicles close,especially in front of me. If you want serious diesel locomotive air horns to here:
https://hornblasters.com/collections/complete-kits
Quote from: chessie4905 on January 28, 2018, 10:31:42 AMI like using mine in a tunnel if there aren't any vehicles close,especially in front of me. If you want serious diesel locomotive air horns to here:
https://hornblasters.com/collections/complete-kits
Hey, Chessie! Can you bring me a glass of cool water? I'm resting quietly in a darkened room -- I saw those prices and .... well ...
Train horns are all well and good, but for something seriously loud how about a ship's fog horn? I've got space (just) for one under the front, but I don't know what air pressure and volume they need. Maybe they need high-pressure steam instead? I don't want to cause involuntary defecation, but LOUD sometimes is good.
I suspect those train horns, expensive though they are, may not be the real deal, in other words not actual horns made by Nathan and used on locomotives. The sound recording of the P5 sounds thin to me, without all the harmonics that make a true train horn so rich sounding. Real train horns are sand-cast, and non-cast replicas will never sound the same. The last time I checked eBay the ex-railroad horns were going for almost $2000.
John
I had a set of 3 train horns that I mounted up front beside the original small air horns that came with the M C I
WOW ! big difference . I ended up using a 12 volt solenoid to the button on the steering wheel as the floor button was to hard to find in a panic situation
like this set
https://kleinn.com/product/model-500-train-horn/
on the featherlite I have a set of 2 on the roof that are about 30 " long and they sound good but not as load as the train horns
dave
I'm sure they would be cheaper without the tank, pump and valves. The horn I blow in tunnels is not one of these, just coaches air horn, in case of confusion. They may be a little thinner sounding, but most people wouldn't notice, being more concerned about another pair of underware.
I've seen take off locomotive horns at train shows for $600 to $1200, still quite salty.
well, what a nice my horn is louder than yours! :D
Now, from a practical point of view, when and how often are you going to really cut them loose and let them BLAST unless you just want to scare the shiite out of someone!
In the Evansville Parade we all had them going and they were all different. Neat sounds going through town with buildings and walls All 60 of us.
Some states have laws prohibiting train horns, so be careful where you use them and who's around you.
https://trainhorns.us/articles/are-train-horns-illegal-in-your-state/
CA and AZ both have laws limiting a air horn too 110 db the 150+ db aftermarket train horns are highly illegal in those 2 states and I am sure most states have about the same law
We've got the factory air horn and electric horn on the 4108. They both protrude through openings under the front-right corner of the bus. The air horn is not nearly as loud as a train horn, but it could easily cause some unwanted seat moisture if someone gets caught unaware by it.
Yeah, not to spoil the fun but if one were to sound an illegal horn and some driver claims an accident since there was a huge distraction, guess what, at least here in CA be prepared to move cause you're about to lose your house.
Hadley horn and a vintage Plymouth Road Runner, both work off the horn/steer wheel. I have a selector toggle switch on the dash.
This is not a case of "my horn is louder than your horn", it is a need for safety. Normal air horns are just not loud enough to overcome the nearly silent interiors on some cars now-add in a loud stereo, and they won't hear a thing. Blast with a train horn, and that will wake them up-believe me when I say the train horns have saved me from some bad possible collisions-mostly with trucks. Good Luck, TomC
I seem to recall reading where anything over 90db could cause hearing loss correct me if that is wrong.The railroads have paid out big bucks for employees hearing loss around here, my neighbors that have worked for BN/SF for years cannot hear their self fart
You can get anything aftermarket but I always wondered why MCI, PREVOST, VAN HOOL and the rest don't offer air horns as RPO.
I've seen a few semi's at our plants with those train horns. Those things will catch you off guard and think twice if even if you know that there aren't any track nearby. :)
If your looking for the Real Deal.
I am tempted to bid on them.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=2019852 (https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=2019852)
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=2019859 (https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auction/view?auc=2019859)
Would probably take a little work to get them operational.
Peter
If I recall correctly, real train horns are strong and effective because pressures of 160-180 psi are used to blow them, which is above what we have on most coaches. A "train horn" on a bus won't sound quite the same.
Clifford
Didn't you know that's why farts smell. So Def people can enjoy them too. Sorry for the drift but it's not very often that comes up.
True train horns can consume a LOT of compressed air!
Energy is required to make the noise. I saw one train horn that needed 200 scfm of air at 150 psi.
I would like a bit louder horn to catch inattentive drivers attention. A pressure regulator could be used to adjust the sound level. A discrete electric switch can select between normal air horn & the louder horns.
Quote from: kyle4501 on January 31, 2018, 07:02:12 PM
True train horns can consume a LOT of compressed air!
Energy is required to make the noise. I saw one train horn that needed 200 scfm of air at 150 psi.
I would like a bit louder horn to catch inattentive drivers attention. A pressure regulator could be used to adjust the sound level. A discrete electric switch can select between normal air horn & the louder horns.
Yup, lotsa air. Here's Nathan's website: http://microprecisiongroup.com/nathan-airchime/technical-info (http://microprecisiongroup.com/nathan-airchime/technical-info) Their K-5H needs 150 SCFM at 120 PSIG, while their K-3LA needs only (!) 72 SCFM at 100 PSIG. Even the latter would be a challenge for a bus - a large surge tank would be needed to flow that much air. So, maybe a real train horn is not such a sensible idea!
John
Those train horns at auction have 5 horns. Are they all at different frequencies? Who picked that
sound, and why?
Most everything you wanted to know...or didn't. These are manufactured by different companies, hence their unique sounds.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_horn
Great article - thanks for the link.
Buellairhorns.com have "train" horns that I'm using, but are made of plastic and don't use alot of air, but are loud.