MTFCA Forum

Good day everyone
My 1911 touring bulb horn doesn't honk anymore. The bulb is good and I can hear air rushing out when I squeeze it.
I guess it needs a new reed. How do I replace it? Is it soldered or screwed on? Do I have to remove the entire horn or does it just pull apart?

Mike,
I’m guessing your horn is a double twist either Rubes or Nonpareil
If so the reed if it’s original is located near the horn side of the horn. The reed is a push in type meaning it pushes into the horn. All the repos are a screw in type. If your reed is broken you will either need to find an original push in type or if you get a replacement repo you will also need to change out the horn reed adapter and a threaded adapter that covers the reed as well. The repo reeds use a threaded end instead of the push in style and the horn reed adapter and the threaded adapter use a 5/8 x32 thread. The earlier and original horn reed adapter and threaded adapters used a 41/64" x 27 thread. In 1915 model year Ford changed to what I presume was the industry standard at the time, 5/8 x 32 which is what Vintique uses for the reproductions that are carried by all the vendors. The horn reed if it’s a push in is soldered in the horn reed adapter. Hope this helps.

Sadly, there are no reeds to be found. No one is making them. I need one for my '13. I have a new "hose" and bulb on it but it still sounds like a sick and dying goose!

I also have an '11, a torpedo, when I bought the car, the horn would barely work. Long story short, it ended up being a bad, slightly leaking hose, cable, whatever you wanna call it. BEFORE messing with that existing reed, try a good air leak test on your hose. It may be just the problem. Once I replaced my hose, they do seem to be available, my problem went away, and man that horn is loud and sounds great! Trying to "tune" a reed is all but impossible, so frankly, don't even mess with it. Good luck and keep us posted.

Wild suggestion, get one of the Bom-Bay taxi horns and adapt the reed out of it to your setup.

Here is a discussion on adjusting them. It is tricky but can be done with time and patience.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1305319130
and another:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/59 ... 1470155027

Ha ha Rich...that's the problem, I got no patience!

Check Restoration Supply in Escondido, that is where I got mine.

Eckler's advertises them. oops!

I have a couple availalbe - they're the screw in type.