Dumb question on air horns

[Paladin]

The previous owner of my bus mounted two horns up top and they aren't connected to anything, just have the fittings.
Where would be a good place to tap in for an air source and where do you get a valve to blow the horns? I guess while I'm at it, where would everyone suggest I stick that valve to mount my horns? 
Where would be a good place to mount it? I kind of like the idea of a cord to pull??

Maybe someday I'll replace those horns with a train horn, that would be fun!


-Dave

[Tony LEE]

Supply must come off the accessory circuit, most of which originates from the accessory pressure tank located under the driver position and above the steering gear.

Mine has a foot operated button which used to be located just where I stood up to get out of the seat. Stupid position and there is really no good position that can be operated by a foot pedal unless perhaps the bus has an automatic transmission.

Could try a lanyard operated valve same as many trucks have so you could operate it with either hand.

[Paladin]

Yeah, I also have the one activated by the foot. I'd like one maybe that I can pull by hand if i can since that foot switch not situated in a good place anyway.

I guess I can tee off of that tank but now I need to arrange some sort of valve and a mounting for it as well as a lanyard ( that's the word I was looking for).


-Dave

[jackhartjr]

Dave, I would go to a truck place, look at how they have them mounted, usually where the driver just reaches up with the left hand and grabs the lanyard and pulls.  I can't imagine they cost a lot.
Jack

[makemineatwostroke]

If you don't want the chain buy you a electric horn relay and valve made by Hadley air horn and hook it up to your steering wheel horn button

[Utahclaimjumper]

Look the horn over carefully, mine has the solinoid built in for electric operation.>>>Dan

[kfbmx]

Yes, look the horns over carefully.  I thought mine were "just for show" after I did not notice any wiring or hoses going to them, but the air hose can run through the head liner in very narrow spaces and the electric solenoid mounts out of the way (out of sight).  Once I tracked down the pieces, I figured out how they work....any boy do they ever work!

[TomC]

I lucked out that I had an air suspension drivers seat (with quick disconnect that I use to fill my tires also).  I just put in a T for both my roof mounted double twin air horns (2 sets of 2) and my train horn under the floor.  I plumbed the 2 double horns on the roof with two pull valves over the driver's seat so I can pull either the high toned one or the low toned one or grab the chain loop in the middle and pull both for a cool sounding 4 toned horn.  The train horn under the floor, I have an electric solenoid valve that is right by the train horn for immediate response, and the push button is right next to the pull chain for the roof horns.  So I have a combination of 5 possible horns- normal car type electric horn, high pitch twin, low pitch twin, all four together, and the train horn.  Makes it fun.  Believe me when I say the train horn comes in handy for those luxury cars that can't hear much outside the quiet cabin of their cars.  I first put the train horn on my truck and used it often. Go to www.buellairhorns.com to see.  Good Luck, TomC 

[niles500]

Mine is tee'd off the air seat also -FWIW

[FloridaCliff]

Dave,

I removed the foot activated valve and tracked the air line to a tee near my auxillary tank.

I then replumbed it to a new dc activated air solenoid.

It is activated off the center of the steering wheel horn button.

On mine, the original city horn went to a relay anyway, so its any easy connection from the relay to the new air solenoid.  I don't use the electric horn anymore.

Plus, if I need to use it, its easy to find on the wheel, where I try to keep my hands when driving. 

Cliff

[Tim Strommen]

Of course you could use a small lanyard or pilot solenoid to drive a brake relay valve on a dedicated 50-gallon aux tank with something like a Nathan P5 train horn (with an air line as big as you can get to the chimes... ).

I wonder if that dumb yuppie could sue you for the iced-venti-two-shot-mochca-latte he/she drops in their lap when their attention shifts quickly from gossip about who-ever's-brother's-girlfriend's-boob-job back to the task of driving...

I think it would still be worth buying a Gucci suit...

-Tim