Removing air horns and adding train horn

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by rank, Dec 7, 2015.

  1. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    I routed the existing 3/16 line down to a pilot valve. Then ran 1/2 from there. The 3/16 just opens and closes the valve. Kind of like a relay in a electric circuit.
     
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  3. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Special-K you have 3/16" to the pull cord or "switch" and then 1/2" from there to a single train horn?
     
  4. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    That's a heck of a good idea. I used the factory size air line, ran it up the headliner down the side post of the cab and then split it to one air horn on each side of the bunk. And it didn't work, to small of line with to much length, horns barely made a sound. So I used an electric solenoid and wired it to the beep beep horn.
    Don't really like it. Gonna buy train horn sometime
     
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  5. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Woahhhhhhhhh hold on a minute.

    Are you sure the line was too small or was it because you split the line and ran the horns in series? Mine were parallel when I pulled the headliner down (figured that was factory) so I was going to run two parallel lines (i.e. each horn gets a dedicated line and therefore air supply) under the bunk.

    I really don't want cut two big fat holes in my cab if 3/16" would work.

    Big advantage to a train horn....one air line.
     
  6. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    I struggle with in series and parallel. I ran one line from valve down to under the bunk then put in a T one line to each horn. I believe it's to much line causing pressure drop by the end
     
  7. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    Parallel means each horn gets it own separate line from the valve.
    Series is the way you did it. Little line feeds both horns and 2nd horn gets the air that's left over.
     
  8. special-k

    special-k Road Train Member

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    No i have the pilot or relay valve mounted directly to the passenger air tank. Then 1/2 inch to the air horn. The 3/16 is run down from the pull cord to open the valve. I had a electric solenoid but didnt like the abruptness of the sound. This way i can feather it on too.
     
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  9. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    That's a pretty good idea Special-K
     
  10. rank

    rank Road Train Member

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    7 pages for a simple train horn question LOL
     
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  11. RidinDirty11

    RidinDirty11 Light Load Member

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    Rank, I can probably help here. I used 3/16 and made sure I had system pressure at the airline to the horn when I pulled the valve.
    Trust me when I say they will wake you up. Those horns do not require that kind of air volume. If you want to get really trick, buy an electric over air solenoid and connect it to the center horn on the steering wheel horn. DOT only says you have to have operating horn, does not specify you need city horn and air horn, DOT has never said a word to me in the last 10 years I ran train horns and no city horn.
     
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