Buell Horn question

[Plan B2]

Has anyone here had experience powder coating a 1984 vintage set of buell horns?

 

[Fanfare]

No powder coat, but I have successfully rechromed my 48 year old horns. Just have to have the pits buffed away. I think these are brass and can be smoothed away. You might email Buell for info. www.buellairhorns.com

 

[sandspur1966]

Hey Jim (Grove) can you share who did the chrome work and what it cost?

I am trying to decide whether to buy a new set for $450 or have mine re-chromed. I figure if it costs anything over $250 to re-chrome, a new set is worth not hassling with shipping and QC... Thanks.

Shawn

 

[sgharford]

Hi Shawn - I just had a bunch of odds and ends rechromed at Nassau Chrome in Mineola (http://www.nassauchrome.com/). Minimum charge for polished re-chroming is $250, had about 10 pieces done for that price (a bunch from my Dad's 17" Montauk Whaler where included). It took about 2 months to get back, they apparently do these smaller jobs in batches. It came up beautiful, would recommend them, they've been in business for 90 years.

 

[Fanfare]

Years back I had mine rechromed here in Ft. Lauderdale (where we arrived last night). But the plater did a poor job of buffing the pits. Then, three or four years ago first one then the other trumpet stopped tooting. After replacing diaphrams they still didn't work, so I sent them back to Buell for a overhaul. Buell said they could find nothing wrong and sent them back, working, and looking really shiny! No charge! It was a few months until I saw the result during which they had been back in their usual spot in the weather. I can't, therefore, say for sure what Buell did to them, but I sent them a real nice thank you note.

In fact, if my bride was not napping I would fire them up and give them a toot. Mine sound so great I wouldn't try any others.

Although if you google steam locomotive whistles or diesel locomotive horns you will have great fun this weekend. A few even let you hear the same whistles running on steam versus air pressure. A steam whistle has been on my wish list for years! Don't forget to turn your volume up!

 

[sandspur1966]

Hey thanks Guys, I will definitely try Nassau Chrome for a bunch of stuff that needs to be refinished.

Jim I just had an amazing experience with BUELL I called and asked if the have a service in house to refurbish their product and they could not possibly have been nicer. They asked me to ship them back and they will determine how big a job it is and said that it usually comes to between a half and a third of buying a new set for around 500.00.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Please let us know. Maybe they would do my Raritans if I asked them nicely. Although a set of Buell horns would be nice, too...... and even louder.

 

[SeaEric]

I own a set of vintage Buells that I bought on here from an HOF member who removed them from his old 50 MY. I'm embarrassed to say that they have been here in my office, in the as yet unopened box for a year. Perhaps I should unpack them and put them on the to do list for inspection/refurb/install this Spring. I have not yet begun the research as to what I need air-wise to run them.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Buell can tell you what you need. Essentially, you need a lot of air at high pressure. And they are LOUD. Like ambulance or truck loud, maybe louder than that, if you are talking about the really large ones.

I think most of these systems use a compressor and reservoir and a solenoid-operated switch to sound the horns. They run on 12vdc, although they will probably make other voltage compressors as well. It is somewhat complex but not outrageous.

Remember, they are LOUD.

 

[Fanfare]

My OEM dual-trumpet Buells ran off the stock DD air compressor mounted on the port 8V-71n engine. This output about 125 psi to the horns via an accumulator tank adopted straight from your local gas station's portable air tank. Which is just what Hatteras used--it still had the handle on top! When I re-engined to DD6V-92TAs the turbocharger now occupied the spot for the air compressor so, to keep the horns, I had to go to a 12v electric compressor and dual accumulator tanks because these were smaller. This was OK for my normal minimal use in Florida, until I decided to head to Nova Scotia one summer. The 12v system just couldn't supply the continuous fog signal of a five second blast every two minutes. This required installing a Sears 110v power tool air compressor which could replenish the air volume the horns require. I did replace my horn button with an automatic fog signal timer so I wouldn't need to do this hour after hour. This was a good idea since we were in continuous fog from Norfolk, VA on virtually all the way to Halifax.

 

[sandspur1966]

My OEM dual-trumpet Buells ran off the stock DD air compressor mounted on the port 8V-71n engine. This output about 125 psi to the horns via an accumulator tank adopted straight from your local gas station's portable air tank. Which is just what Hatteras used--it still had the handle on top! When I re-engined to DD6V-92TAs the turbocharger now occupied the spot for the air compressor so, to keep the horns, I had to go to a 12v electric compressor and dual accumulator tanks because these were smaller. This was OK for my normal minimal use in Florida, until I decided to head to Nova Scotia one summer. The 12v system just couldn't supply the continuous fog signal of a five second blast every two minutes. This required installing a Sears 110v power tool air compressor which could replenish the air volume the horns require. I did replace my horn button with an automatic fog signal timer so I wouldn't need to do this hour after hour. This was a good idea since we were in continuous fog from Norfolk, VA on.

I went much the same way Jim.

Removed my bendix pto compressor to have room for a hydraulic pump with the capacity to run stabs and a thruster should I ever decide to get one.

One twist was I went with a 110v hookah compressor with 2x 100 ft dive hoses (can't imagine using them with a few more inches of snow last night!) an just T'd off that compressor for the horn. Works great. I use the hailer fog settimg instead of the air horns though.

Bulls boxed and shipped... Will let you all know the quote this week.

 

[Plan B2]

I'm glad I ask. Looking forward to hearing the quote from buell.

 

[Plan B2]

I am still interested in hearing what "sandspur1966" gets back from Buell. However, I followed the advise here andf ask them about the powder coating process. Here is the feedback from Buell regarding prep for powder coating their Stombos model.

"If your horns are the Strombos model, please refer to the comments below.

When powdercoating the horns, there are several holes that will need to be plugged. The obvious ones are the air inlet port in the bottom of the horn, and the throat of the horn bell, which needs to be blocked in order to keep the internal diaphragm clean.

There are two other important holes, which are located in the backplate, and should be blocked. They are very small, but serve to let the air equalize inside the chamber. If these holes become clogged or filled in, then the horn will not sound properly.

Also, in the center of the backplate is an opening that allows adjustment of the set-screw on the diaphragm. Usually, this set-screw should not need adjusting, but it brings up the point that once the horns are powdercoated, you will not be able to change or clean the diaphragm. If the horns are sounding great and are extremely loud, then you may want to leave the diaphragms "as is" and proceed with the powdercoating. If, however, you think that the horns aren't quite as loud or sharp as when new, you may want to consider replacing the diaphragms."

 

[sandspur1966]

Here is their response, they could not have been more professional and responsive. While I have to admit the quote was slightly north of where I expected, it saves me a "dinner out" right off the top from buying new and the complication and potential frustration of trying to save a few bucks and have a plater who may not get the nuance of doing an air horn with all the relief holes etc.

I'll post before and after pics when I get it back.


Hi Shawn,

Thank you for sending in the air horns. We received them yesterday and were able to take a look at them. We feel that the best action to take is to replace the horn bells with new ones, and to replate the sounding units and the bracket. The cost to do this is $350.00.

A new set is $482, but these would have new horn bells, and the other parts should look like new. This would also include replacing the diaphragms and gaskets, and tuning and testing the horns.

Thanks again, and please let us know if you have any questions or need additional information.

Best Regards,
John Stephens

 

[Plan B2]

That is well north of what I expected as well, but it reclaims the original equipment. I've added the buell refurbishment to my project list and look forward to seeing the before and after.

 

[Plan B2]

Shawn,
Have you received a completion date from Buel?

 

[sandspur1966]

Just got the refurbished horn set back, they look perfectly new... well the bells ARE new, and all the castings are re-chromed.

 

[Plan B2]

They look fantastic

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Those look great. Now I think I need to have mine done. What was the total cost? $350 as quoted?

 

[sandspur1966]

Hey Sky sorry was on the road.

Actually came in a few bucks less, turns out the prep wasn't as much work.

But with shipping was still less than the original quote and included new bells , re-chromed castings and all new parts inside the bases.

Now that it is done... totally worth it and Buell couldn't have been nicer and more professional, start to finish.