Replacement Air Horn recommendations

PostPost by: alanr » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:25 am

My original fitment Fiamm air horns have died...I have tried without sucess to get anything more than Fww....!!.out of them after hours of messing around with them so I have now decided to look for reasonably priced loud'ish replacements in the UK.
They are now all made it seems in China with varying quality/price. Are the Halfords 'Ring' ones any good?...or Stebel GP2?...or alternative suggestions please?

Thanks,

Alan.
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PostPost by: jono » Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:51 am

I used Durite air horns and found them to be excellent. Probably still made in China (what isn't these days) but I wanted to use a recognised quality brand

I'm sure the Ring ones will be good as well - they're stuff usually is
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PostPost by: alanr » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:02 pm

Hi Jon,
That is the sort of recommendation I was looking for. I just don't want to buy poorly made junk that only lasts a short time but on the other hand I don't want to pay a fortune!
I will have a look for Durite ...

Thanks,

Alan.
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PostPost by: nmauduit » Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:35 pm

I've just replaced the "compressor" when I restored my S4 (Maserati), in order to keep the original sound, as it was corroded beyound salvageable...

Have you tried to lubricate yours ?
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PostPost by: alanr » Fri Oct 29, 2021 2:58 pm

nmauduit wrote:I've just replaced the "compressor" when I restored my S4 (Maserati), in order to keep the original sound, as it was corroded beyound salvageable...

Have you tried to lubricate yours ?


Yes I have had it pieces a couple of times, lubricated armature bearing, checked the vanes are free. Visually the internal condition seems all good . However, all I can get is a loud rattling noise from the compressor and seemingly not a lot of 'puff'. Fed up with playing around with them hence looking for replacements.

Alan.
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PostPost by: TBG » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:11 pm

The Durite are 115db - these below are 150db- much better at moving protestors glued or otherwise!! D

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chrome-Trumpet ... 7823&psc=1
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PostPost by: Andy8421 » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:20 pm

alanr wrote:Yes I have had it pieces a couple of times, lubricated armature bearing, checked the vanes are free. Visually the internal condition seems all good . However, all I can get is a loud rattling noise from the compressor and seemingly not a lot of 'puff'. Fed up with playing around with them hence looking for replacements.

Alan.

Alan,

If the pump is like mine, it is easy to connect the wrong way around. Have you checked you have the connections the right way? The pump will run in reverse and just rattle and not pump air if the connections are reversed.
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PostPost by: alanr » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:37 pm

Hi Andy,
Thanks for the thought. It is definitely worth a double check. However it does put out some pressure when its making the rattling noise but it just doesn't seem enough to me.

Alan
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PostPost by: alanr » Fri Oct 29, 2021 3:47 pm

TBG wrote:The Durite are 115db - these below are 150db- much better at moving protestors glued or otherwise!! D

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chrome-Trumpet ... 7823&psc=1


Thanks,
The problem is I wonder how good they really are...just wary of chinese tat and all that!
I would prefer to buy a known brand that is recommended by others who have actually fitted them.

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PostPost by: StressCraxx » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:27 pm

Suggest the Stebel compact air horn. RDent Enterprises sells them. 115dB
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PostPost by: smo17003 » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:59 pm

Durite is the brand supplied by Sue Miller.
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PostPost by: mbell » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:14 pm

StressCraxx wrote:Suggest the Stebel compact air horn. RDent Enterprises sells them. 115dB


I run a similar (not from Rdent) unit, seems to work well and suspect there available in UK from various places at reasonable cost.
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PostPost by: TBG » Fri Oct 29, 2021 10:22 pm

".just wary of chinese tat and all that!"

Perfectly good thought but the great thing about buying from Amazon is that if it is no good the returns system is excellent. D
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PostPost by: oldelanman » Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:56 am

Hi Alan,
The Fiamm compressor draws 17amps so needs good supply and earth connections to work properly. I found that testing mine off the car using a battery charger that could only supply around 5 amps it behaved exactly as you describe and I thought it was duff. However, when fitted to the car it was fine. If you are bench testing yours maybe the supply is inadequate and if you are testing on the car maybe the supply and/or earth connections are suspect.
Just a thought.
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PostPost by: alanr » Sat Oct 30, 2021 7:42 am

Off on on the car is the same result. Checked and remade earths and live connections on relay etc.
Yes I am aware of the current draw required but unable to measure currently as my meter has a max of 10 amps. I have an old analogue meter somewhere so I may re-check the compressor supply current using that.
I do suspect though that it is a combination of the compressor has just lost its puff and the diapragms in the horns corroded.
I am fed up with playing around with it and need to move on to doing more interesting things...!
A Durite/Stebel replacement kit I think is the way that things are going to go if i have not sorted soon.

Alan.
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