Horn

[Glennman]

I'm entering my bus it a local Christmas light parade again this year. Last year, I realized that my horn sounded like a bicycle horn, as it brought plenty of laughter from the crowds.

I'm thinking of improving it this time. Any ideas on horns you guys have added or modified?

[sledhead]

Put in a 3trumpet train horn

[epretot]

I have an air horn activated by a foot valve. Its very impressive.

In fact, I start the bus and blow it at passing cars. Quite fun for some reason. Always gets a startling reaction.

The horn is in the bay with the windshield washer fluid.

[dtcerrato]

Our foot valve blows a horn called a Strombos locomotive air horn similar to what epretot explains then there are two pairs of air horn bugles on the roof, one pair is large & low pitched and loud (our favorite) and a small pair high pitch. Then there is the oem electric bus horn. Last but not least is a 1950s 6vdc NYFD hood siren extremely loud & piercing spinning on 12vdc. Most horns were hand-me-downs from long haul uncle owner operator truckers.

[Glennman]

So with much of the air system at the front being regulated/dedicated to air bags and brakes, how do I figure out which air lines to tap for a horn? On an earlier post I mentioned tapping the front system for an air hose for filling tires, but it appears that the lines up front have too many check valves and such.

[Dave5Cs]

My air horns come off the aux. tank on the ceiling of the front tool compartment under the drivers area.

[luvrbus]

So with much of the air system at the front being regulated/dedicated to air bags and brakes, how do I figure out which air lines to tap for a horn? On an earlier post I mentioned tapping the front system for an air hose for filling tires, but it appears that the lines up front have too many check valves and such.

Unless they were removed you have a set of air horns that work off the steering wheel center and a foot valve on the lower left floor could be bad fuse or electric solenoid

[Glennman]

That's interesting luvrbus. I do have a foot button there that I don't know what it does. Maybe it actually does work. I'll look into that this weekend.

Where would the actual oem horns be located?

[luvrbus]

That's interesting luvrbus. I do have a foot button there that I don't know what it does. Maybe it actually does work. I'll look into that this weekend.

Where would the actual oem horns be located?

Buses like trucks have to have a auditable horn of a db of 125 to 150 db at 100 ft look on the drivers left corner is where they are most of the time

[epretot]

That's interesting luvrbus. I do have a foot button there that I don't know what it does. Maybe it actually does work. I'll look into that this weekend.

Where would the actual oem horns be located?

The bay under the driver seat. Near the window washer fluid reservoir.

[hypersniper2010@yahoo.com]

Glennman
Been following all your YouTube videos. Nice work.
Just started my own conversion. Its a 2001 mci D4500. Your videos along with a few others have inspired my build and given me some great ideas and info. I appreciate all your hard work. 

[Glennman]

That's awesome. Nice bus!!!

[RJ]

Any ideas on horns you guys have added or modified?

Glenn -

First, make sure that your factory air horn is working - that's the button on the floor by your left heel.

Then make sure your factory electric horn is working, the one on the steering wheel.

After you've got both of them working, now it's time to go have some fun:

A "Klaxon" horn sounding like an old Model T Ford would be a fun starter horn.

Oh, what the heck - go to HornBlasters.com and pick out any number of different horns! Stuff several in the old spare tire compartment, the tool compartment under the driver, under the front stairwell, or even mounted on the bulkheads on either side of the front axle.

Be interesting to see what you come up with!

FWIW & HTH. . . 

RJ

[Glennman]

I tested out the button on the floor left of the driver. It sounds like it activates the exact same horn as the steering wheel. It only sounds electric and very cheap and weak. I am unable to find anything that resembles an air horn at all.

[luvrbus]

Some where down the lines maybe the air horns were broken and removed, they work off the steering wheel and foot valve, folks use the foot valve when the clock spring on the steering wheel goes bad