darryl@ISM780.UUCP (08/25/85)
Since we were just discussing this subject, and several people recommended the Fiamm electric horns (myself included), I thought I would relate a subsequent experience: I was going home on the freeway last week, when, as I suspected she would, a woman moved into my lane without signalling or looking. There was no problem avoiding her, since I had already anticipated her actions; but I went to use my horns to make sure she understood that she had violated my space, when I had a surprise: no horns. When I got home, I could hear the relay clicking under the tank, but no juice was making it to the horns. I pulled the tank and openned up the relay, and discovered that the contact points were so pitted that effectively no power was getting across them. I dressed the points and put the everything back together, and now it works fine again. However, I didn't realize that the horns required periodic maintenance. Eventually, the points will become so worn that I'll have to replace the relay. Since the horns are now about three years old, it will be difficult to tell (before it happens again) when they will need adjustment; furthermore, while removing the tank is not difficult, it is time consuming, and not my idea of good entertainment. Can I just go over to my local auto parts shop and buy some kind of replacement relay? What kind of technology is used in them? Are they suitable for use on a motorcycle? Thanks very much for any information, --Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Corp. ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl The views expressed above are my opinions only.