Train Air Horns
#1
#2
No train horns, just a big Grover air horn. It's mounted under the hood on the inner fender, with the bell right behind the horn opening next to the radiator. I tested it with a temporary air tank, but haven't finished doing a proper set-up for it. I ran tubing from an air horn valve in the cab, but that didn't seem to be a good idea: there's noticable delay while the air pressure builds up in the line. An electric valve near the horn may be a better idea, but first I'm going to try the next size up in tubing. I guess I could mount the valve next to the horn and use something like a bicycle brake cable to operate it from inside the cab.
Air tank will be a Euclid sausage tank from a big truck parts store.
The horn cost me about $15 at a swap meet, used. I've picked up a couple of NOS smaller Grover horns for around $30; maybe those will go on the opposite inner fender.
There's been a couple of times when some induhvidual has cut me off that I've deeply regretted not having this horn finished.
Air tank will be a Euclid sausage tank from a big truck parts store.
The horn cost me about $15 at a swap meet, used. I've picked up a couple of NOS smaller Grover horns for around $30; maybe those will go on the opposite inner fender.
There's been a couple of times when some induhvidual has cut me off that I've deeply regretted not having this horn finished.
Last edited by angus; 05-03-2007 at 12:26 AM.
#3
I have some horns that came off tugboats and ferries, and I've found ways to get them on both my trucks. I wired an A/B toggle switch so that the horn button on my steering wheel can be used with either the stock electric horns or the air horns. As you can see from the schematic below, my keyless entry system only has access to the electric horns--I did not want the air horns blowing when I locked the doors with my keychain fob!!!
Mount detail (my homemade brackets from 6061 aluminum):
My B4000 with same horns bolted to a "BackRack" brand rack and smaller 10 gallon compressor in the bed"
Larger 30 gallon compressor in the Sport Trac:
Horn selection switch console on my dash (also from 6061 aluminum bar):
My wiring schematic:
Mount detail (my homemade brackets from 6061 aluminum):
My B4000 with same horns bolted to a "BackRack" brand rack and smaller 10 gallon compressor in the bed"
Larger 30 gallon compressor in the Sport Trac:
Horn selection switch console on my dash (also from 6061 aluminum bar):
My wiring schematic:
Last edited by airraid; 05-03-2007 at 10:11 AM.
#4
Wow! I found this post and thought, I have a great system for this guy. But now I see Airraid's system and I feel inadequate. I have a Viair compressor/tank with dual Kleinn trumpets running at about 160psi. I got the system from eBay stores for about $150. I mounted the horns on the frame directly behind my bumper and the compressor is on a bracket I fabricated from L-stock on the frame under the passenger side. I ran the switch into the cab with an air gauge I purchased from Vic-Hubbard. The whole set up cost less than $200. I pulled up in the parking lot of my office and blasted them to scare my co-workers and ended up making a guy upstairs almost mess his pants. He ran down, visibly shaken, to yell at me. But after I see Airraid's set up I may have to re work my system.
2000 F-250 SC SD 2WD
2000 F-250 SC SD 2WD
#6
#7
that is the most insane horn set up i have ever seen, how can you still have glass on your truck????, isnt it all gone after just one of those sounds? but i assume its not always in the truck, thatd be a touch impracticle, but i bet it gets the point across when someone cuts you off!!?? and lets any nearby ships know where you are as well
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#10
The smaller ones came to me via other collectors or eBay. Be prepared for sticker shock though, a cast bronze boat horn is not nearly as affordable as a cast aluminum train horn. Kahlenberg's horns, for example, have MSRPs up into the $30,000 range, and you have to fight rich yacht owners and commercial boat operators for the 2nd hand ones too.
#15