| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
Hey guys, I've got a bit of a situation that perhaps I am making bigger than it is, but I am looking for some suggestions here. This is the situation. Today I noticed that I had a blown headlight and at the same time I was also able to tell that a rattle I have been hearing was coming from inside the front of the bike. For some time I have been hearing a rattle, but I keep thinking it was coming from the air box and could not find anything that was causing it when I took the airbox cover off and inspected. Well, today the rattle was worse and I could tell it was definitely coming from inside the front windscreen or whatever you call the plastic part the windshield attaches to. Anyway, I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and replace the headlight bulb and hopefully discover what was making the rattling noise. Once I removed the windscreen, it was pretty obvious what was making the noise. The horn was just flopping about in there as the bracket that holds it to the headlight assembly had sheared in two. Hear is my emergency. My dad is having surgery either this Monday or next. I find out tomorrow. I plan to go be with him for the surgery, and the Buell is my transportation there. My job provides me with a car, but I can't use it to go be with my dad and my wife will need our car, so that leaves the Buell. I am going to check with the Harley dealership tomorrow, but I will be pretty surprised if they have the bracket in stock or can get one quickly. That leaves me with fabricating my own. The problem is that I don't have any metal fabricating tools or experience. So, I am short on time and on ideas. Do you guys know of something I could use as a bracket if I can't locate one? It is such a simple little piece of metal, I have to think there are simple options that will work. I've been wanting to install a louder aftermarket horn, but now is not the time for me to jump into that. Thanks | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Lose the horn for a few days. Take it off and order a bracket. | ||
| Djohnk |
Find someone that welds. It should be a quick cheap fix. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Go to an auto parts store and pick up a snailshell horn such as Fiamm or Freeway Blaster. The mounting bracket should work with the stock horn until you have time to tear back into it and install the new one. I'd go with the High Tone, and install it with a relay. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=freeway+blaste r+motorcycle+horn&FORM=HDRSC2 | ||
| Ourdee |
Duct tape it in and ride. Fix it in a couple of weeks. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Take the bracket off the horn, and off the bike. Turn the horn around, so it faces the other way. Use the bolt that attached the horn to the bracket, to attach the horn directly to the bike. The horn will be "inside" the brace on the bike, facing towards the rider, and will work just fine that way. IIRC you may need a washer or 2 to space it out, or the bolt bottoms out. I did it that way for years, before installing a Stebel. | ||
| Reepicheep |
All good options. It's an easy kludge. The horn is mostly useless anyway. I did the FIAM from Autozone route. If you already have the flysreen off, it's a 10 minute upgrade at most. When you relocate it, make sure you don't bind up the throttle cables or the wiring harness, they need room to float in there. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I used a chunk of scrap steel and made a new one. your most expedient solution is Rat's though. Wish I thought of it  | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Ratbuell Posted on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 07:14 am: Take the bracket off the horn, and off the bike. Turn the horn around, so it faces the other way. Use the bolt that attached the horn to the bracket, to attach the horn directly to the bike. The horn will be "inside" the brace on the bike, facing towards the rider, and will work just fine that way. IIRC you may need a washer or 2 to space it out, or the bolt bottoms out. This is what I did about 5 years ago and it's working perfectly. No fab experience necessary! | ||
| Motorbike |
Pull the horn off, set it on your workbench and take care of your Dad. The broken horn bracket will always be there. | ||
| Dynasport |
Thanks guys! I was tired and frustrated last night, but you guys have given me some good ideas. I think I'll do Ratbuell's idea till I get the Stebel in. | ||
| Griffmeister |
My bracket broke at like 3K miles.I just took the strap off and mounted the horn direct and facing forward and had plenty of room.16K miles now with no problem.Mine's an 08 but I didn't think there were any changes behind the flyscreen over the years.Only difference I know of is the people that put in HID's where the power unit takes up the space.At any rate, you can do a quick fix with no parts and very little time needed. | ||
| Dynasport |
Well, I just reinstalled my horn in the stock location without the bracket. Fit fine. I don't really know why they put the flimsy bracket on there in the first place. I also replaced both headlight bulbs and my battery. Should be good to go now. My dad's surgery has been scheduled for a week from Monday, so I'll be heading out on it then. Thanks for the advice guys. | ||
| Xbimmer |
I don't really know why they put the flimsy bracket on there in the first place. Horns work better when they're allowed to vibrate, that being said their maximum efficiency is realized through a direct battery link via a relay vs through the horn button. It's a tradeoff since every Fiamm I've ever used on a bike has eventually fatigued the bracket close to the mounting point, except for the factory BMW mounts for my R100S. They use(d) a two piece mount with a steel strip and a backup spring steel strip. I don't know whether they're even available any more, but I'm going to look into it. Last w/e I installed dual Fiamms on the Uly attached to the GME light bar, they sound like a freight train but the Buell shakes them so badly I don't see the brackets lasting very long. Well wishes for your Dad's surgery.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Make sure you didn't set it up so it binds the free movement of the wiring harness when you sweep the bars lock to lock, or you will be chasing broken wires a year from now. | ||
| Dynasport |
Yep, I checked that. Thanks! |
