TR2/3/3A Notes on TR3 horns

[CraigLandrum]

Marching ever forward with our miracle barn find TR3A, we tried testing the horns last weekend. They made a faint "click" sound, and after taking the top cover off I saw that the solenoid spring arm was a bit rusty. Cleaned all that up and ran some fine grit sandpaper between the contacts (lift the spring-loaded arm to move the contacts apart, insert folded-over sandpaper sandpaper, and release - then back and forth a few times).

After retrying the horn, it still just clicked. Because the solenoid wiring was a very large diameter, I suspected that the wiring was probably good, and it didn't appear burned or corroded.

The answer? The battery we were using wasn't charged! After recharging fully, both the High and Low cleaned-up horns worked fine. Had no idea that the TR horns were two separate notes (marked with an "H" on one and an "L" on the other inside the end of the horn). Neat sound!

Word to wise test only with a good charged up battery.

Also - our horns came with the half-globe covers removed and it took my son a while to figure out that a loose "U" shaped piece we found in the parts box locks into the half-holes on either side of the solenoid and arches across the top. The top of the arch has a hole in it that lines up with the hole in the center of the half-globe cover allowing a small bolt or screw to hold the cover down tightly. We had only one of these hold-down arches and my son quickly fabbed up another out of scrap sheet metal for the other horn.

 

[TR3driver]

The answer? The battery we were using wasn't charged!

Indeed, the stock TR3 horns take a huge amount of current, intermittantly. My 10 amp battery charger won't run even one of them!

 

[DNK]

I embarrassingly found that out when I erroneously answered without knowing that from another questioner.
Learned my lesson on that.Not the first time I have opened my mouth only to have Randall or someone correct me. Even the Answer Man

 

[Andrew Mace]

Indeed, the stock TR3 horns take a huge amount of current, intermittantly.

True, but they do make one fine, loud noise...not the sort of horn one might expect from a little ol' roadster (and nothing like the weenie-sounding horns on most later Triumphs)!

 

[Don Elliott]

Back in 1958, I was surprised when I honked the horn the first time in my new 1958 TR3A. I thought it sounded too "modern" or too ordinary for a sportscar.

In 1987, when I dismantled my car, I took the horns apart and they would click but there was no sound. This was when they were connected to a fully charged battery on the bench. I looked into the "horn" and saw an accumulation of aluminium oxide and salt residue (from salty winter roads) and sand + gravel left there from when I used to scream my TR along gravel rally roads from 1959 to 1970.

Eventually, I got it all out, buffed the innards up a bit, had them sprayed along with all the rest of the parts and they have been honking fine for the last 18 years. I didn't have to touch the electrical bits. It was the crud inside that was preventing the diaphragm from moving (honking).

 

[jessebogan]

I have a whole bunch of "windtones". I buy them up at car shows, junkyards etc. As I have time I restore a pair and sell them on Ebay, or to customers. There really isn't much that goes wrong with them. The points corrode, and sometimes need adjusting. The other thing I find is also easy to fix. If you remove the points (Pay attention to the order that parts are fitted,) you will find a small rod that transfers the points motion to the diaphragm ( really the other way around I think)These can and do corrode in place. After soaking for a while in Kroil, I work them out with side cutters. Run a matching size drill bit in the hole with a pin vise, or by hand to clean it out, and polish up the pin with wet or dry.A little thin grease, and re assemble. Adjust the points as required, and you will be wind- toning away. The part I hate the most is removing dents from the domes. That takes me the longest, because if they are painted gloss black, every imperfection shows up like it has a sign pointing right at it. It is a hobby -really !!!