horn doesn't work and don't know if it ever did. at least during my ownership. so today...

i soon discovered that the horn relay was clicking when the horn button on the steering wheel was pressed or if the horn ring was pushed. so assumed that the horns were most likely getting current. they are easily removable so i removed each one and tested them both when connected directly to a spare 12v battery. they both make a very, very faint low rumble when current is applied. but it's barely audible.

of course, i thought i could disassemble them and maybe get them working, but was disappointed that they appear to be rivetted together. although i did notice a small thread square headed bung that might be there to possible lubricate the inside. is that possible? anyway...

i can buy plastic ones for a very reasonable price at Moss Motors. but does anyone have any other suggestions? i don't show the car. i just drive it (sometimes long distances and for days at a time) for pleasure.

..it's funny, i rarely use a horn...ever. but now when driving the jag, and the horn doesn't work, i find myself wanting to honk at someone, for some perceived slight or possibly poor driving, about four or five times every time i get in! haha

 

You should have Lucas WT618U horns.
In the middle of the dome there is a very small slot headed screw. Removal of that screw allows the dome to be removed.
There is a set of points associated with what amounts to a buzzer which drives the horn diaphragm.
These points typically need to be cleaned to allow full power to go to the coil of the buzzer. If the points are dirty, you will get the low rumble you mentioned.
I suggest using 400 grade emery paper to clean the points initially and then 800 to 1000 to polish them.
Also check the trumpet section to ensure there are no mudballs or foreign objects like wasp nests etc.
The Mk2 workshop manual does have a "Supplementary Information on electrical and instruments" which gives details on adjusting these horns. (It's right at the back of the manual.)

 

unfortunately, i don't think i have those horns...but they are Lucas and DO have a screw and nut on one side, and may be original. they are identical to these, accept in better shape, cosmetically speaking.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276279844469

thanks for the information...very helpful.

 

Have you checked the fuse? Sometimes it's the simplest things that catch us out.

 

ya, first thing...current was getting to the horns. and testing with them off the car and directly connected to 12v battery produced an anemic rumble.

thanks.

 

found and exact match on Moss. all metal and identical.
https://mossmotors.com/545-020-horn-...fault_products

i'll be trying to disassemble them ASAP now that it's been shown that i succumbed, prematurely, to despair upon seeing all the rivets. *headsmack*.

 

The Mk2, 240, 340 had 3 Lucas horn types fitted over the years if I'm not mistaken.

 

By 1967 yours should have these.

 

thanks...it DOES have these horns, one manufactured in '66 and one in '67 according to their markings, so could be original.

i'll be getting at those slotheaded bungs with a bigger screwdriver tomorrow. nice to know that if it all goes sideways a modern reproduction is available from Moss for less than $200 a pair. ...so i'll be working with a net, so to speak. and Flying Wallendas not withstanding, it's NICE to work with a net. ha

 

The number Bill Mac gives is the Lucas Catalogue number.

 

$200. for a pair of repro plastic claxons ? Highway robbery.

Install a pair of Series 3 XJ-6 claxons for around $60. or so.

They sound the same,
they mount the same,
they connect the same,
and no issues.

 

moss offers two different models of horns, at least, for the Mk2; the plastic ones i mentioned in my first post (very INexpensive at around 30-40 bucks for the pair) , and the modern original reproductions in full metal at about $80 dollars apiece. i referred to them in my previous post.

i estimated fully delivered price plus tax at somewhere south of $200 for the pair of the modern reproductions. these are probably the ones i would purchase if forced to replace them, not so much for their originality but because i know they will fit and i don't like plastic parts especially where these are positioned; right in front and as near to the ground as anything on the car gets. they can take a lot of abuse from road debris.

 

If you're not worried about concours, there are 'looks like' at half the price and modern equivalents at £20 for the pair. For OE, have you looked at SNG B? At least on the UK site, they come to around £100 for the pair with discount.

 

I remember buying a pair of plastic ones from XK'S Unltd. back in 2005. They were Red and did not last 30 days before failing. I understand Moss purchased XK'S Unltd. stock so watch out !!

 

We have a saying in Afrikaans in South Africa that "Goedkoop is Duurkoop" ~ loose translation that others here will understand. Buying cheap always ends up costing more/being expensive.

 

after drilling out the rivets in one of the horns and getting inside, it's clear that the horn had not worked in many years. and yes it has a set of points in it. the screw (and i did get it out) was essentially a dead end as far as disassembly was concerned. it's, IMO, entirely unfixable. everything is corroded. and very, very fine sand everywhere. i'll post a few pics if i can figure out how...

i'm not concerned with the condition of the other one as i assume its condition is about the same. so appears i'll be buying a couple of the OEM type horns from Moss. (cha...ching!)

thanks for all the help, much appreciated.

 

... and the Dutch respond: "Hoeveel!!!!" or How much!!!! The most expensive should be gold plated. The £20 I mentioned was for Hella horns listed by a large factor as OE for Audi/VW.

 

Yep! Dutch & Flemish I can converse in. People say Afrikaans is closer to Flemish. I disagree.

 

I had no option with our European Technical Centre based in Ghent, Belgium.

 

Our international and research offices in The Hague worked entirely in English, there were probably more native English speakers than other languages combined, and the city is very international. As a result, I never became proficient in Dutch. Plus, as a typical engineer ...

We had a South African. The Dutch described his Afrikaans as Dutch with everything not absolutely essential stripped out. He reckoned there were one or two upgrades.