Horn Problems "help"
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Central Virginia
My 06 FLHT has the same problem. Not being a sound expert, but assuming sound volume doubles every 10 decibles, and for example normal is 100 decibles, mine blows at about 40 decibles.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. It has gotten progrssively worse where I hardly ever get the correct volume.
When I last had the bike inspected, it first first tooted at the 40 decible level, then it blew at full volume. THE HARLEY MECHANIC INSPECTING THE BIKE SAID SOMETHING LIKE "LOOKS LIKE YOU NEED TO CLEAN OUT YOUR HORN."
Does anyone know what that means? I keep the bike very clean, so I don't think there would be a significant amount of dust in there.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. It has gotten progrssively worse where I hardly ever get the correct volume.
When I last had the bike inspected, it first first tooted at the 40 decible level, then it blew at full volume. THE HARLEY MECHANIC INSPECTING THE BIKE SAID SOMETHING LIKE "LOOKS LIKE YOU NEED TO CLEAN OUT YOUR HORN."
Does anyone know what that means? I keep the bike very clean, so I don't think there would be a significant amount of dust in there.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 32
From: Canton, Ohio
Glad I hit the "new post" button. I've been having some issues with mine lately on my '02. Sometimes it sounds normal, other times it sounds like a wounded duck. I've got a new set of Howards on the way anyway so I'll make sure I check out the ground. It's the first thing I thought of when it started acting up. Funny thing is, I ordered the new horns and then the factory horn started screwing up. God forbid I start thinking about new speakers or something else 
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: northeastern ohio
On my 3rd horn...last one ordered from HD...still quiet! On a 12SG...looking for help also! thanks!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,810
From: Oklahoma
In my humble opinion, if 2 or more horns don't work properly, the problem is somewhere on the bike, not the horns.. My factory horn mount has a rubber isolator so the horn moves quite a bit, especially at idle. One more thing to check would be fatigued wires with several or all but one strand broken. A volt meter doesn't apply much load so voltage might look good when only the meter is in the circuit. Back probing the plugs and activating the horn might well show a significant voltage drop indicating a problem either in the power supply or ground. Removing the ground plug and clipping on a jumper wire to known good ground and testing again would be an easy way to check the ground side. If no change, reconnect the ground plug to the horn and pull off the hot connector. Clip on the jumper wire to the hot tang and touch the other end to a 12 volt source and see of the horn is loud enough then.
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