Airhorns: Wolo and Howard's Horns - both good

[bikertrashice]

I installed Howard's air-horns (www.howardshorns.com) on the '08 Ultra last year, not cheap ($170) but a good looking product. I wired the Howard using very heavy gauge wire direct from the battery through a relay. Deciding that the wimpy stock horn on our Nightrain needed replacing I ordered a Wolo air-horn from Amazon (www.amazon.com), inexpensive ($36 in black and $45 in chrome). I did not use a relay for the Wolo (although it does come with one); simply used the stock terminals. My impression is that the Wolo has more attention getting ability. I got my wife to stand 5 feet away from each bike and she also felt the Wolo had better attention getting ability. I did not measure decibels so I do not know which is really louder. Just letting you all know that the Wolo is an alternative, not saying its necessarily a better one. As to the Wolo installation - I did lengthened the stock wire connections and I did have to drill out the stock bracket to fit the Wolo supplied bolt but no big deal. The stock cow bell can not be reused. If you hook up the Wolo and it doesn't work just switch the terminal wires. I have heard that the slightly more expense Nautilus, although it looks similar in design to the Wolo, is a better alternative to the Wolo.

[ReformedHippy]

Originally Posted by bikertrashice

. I did not use a relay for the Wolo (although it does come with one); simply used the stock terminals. .

The stock wires arent heavy enough to carry the current/amperage drawn by the compressor....you may get by with it..(for a while)..you may not...good luck....

[MaineUltraClassic]

Baggers magazine just did an air horn shootout, and the Mini Beast won. They compared the Howard's horns, BJ Specialties horns (look like Rivcos), and the Mini Beast. They set up a db meter 15 feet in front of the bikes and tested each horn. The Mini Beast won at 117db, the stock horn was 87db.

I picked up a Mini Beast a couple of weeks ago for $110 delivered, and it is super loud......I love it.

Steve

[bikertrashice]

Originally Posted by ReformedHippy

The stock wires arent heavy enough to carry the current/amperage drawn by the compressor....you may get by with it..(for a while)..you may not...good luck....

And you base this on what?

[Krayven Sumhead]

I'd be concerned about burning out the switch without the relay hooked up.

[Barney Biker]

They included the relay for a reason.
Wouldn't chance it without using the relay.

Barney Biker
07 EG

[ReformedHippy]

Originally Posted by bikertrashice

And you base this on what?

I dont have the # in front of me at the moment but I base it on the fact the stock wiring and horn switch on the bike isnt heavy gauge enough to carry the current drawn by an air horn compressor ... I base it on common sense also...best of luck whatever you decide to do to YOUR bike...

[trooper113]

Originally Posted by bikertrashice

And you base this on what?

The companies that include relays with their horns do so for a reason, not just because they want to include a super trick relay in their package. They wouldn't include relays if not needed.

[bikertrashice]

Originally Posted by ReformedHippy

I dont have the # in front of me at the moment but I base it on the fact the stock wiring and horn switch on the bike isnt heavy gauge enough to carry the current drawn by an air horn compressor ... I base it on common sense also...best of luck whatever you decide to do to YOUR bike...

If that is the best you can do then you should refrain from offering advice you can't back up. The fuse would blow long before there was any harm to the wiring - no fuse blowing problems with my set up. Furthermore, if the wiring was inadequate then the wires would get hot, no problem with that either. One more test, if the wire was inadequate then the sound would be affected. My $39 Wolo hooked up without a relay is louder than my much more expenses Howard's Horns with a relay. Now, whistle boy, give us some facts.

[kemo]

The air horns should use the relay, because the switch contacts are not designed to carry the load of starting the compressor. Also with the Wolo horn it has been a real pain in the ass. There is a plastice clip that is supposed to hold the diaphram to the air compressor I have replaced one horn and repaired the replacement horn. When the clip breaks the horn sounds like it is only blowing one note but what has happened is the fitting between the compressor and the diagphram is not sealed tight so all the air is not going to the horn

[Mr Cujo]

Originally Posted by bikertrashice

If that is the best you can do then you should refrain from offering advice you can't back up.

One could make the same argument back to you regarding your lack of science on the horn performance.....

"I got my wife to stand 5 feet away from each bike and she also felt the Wolo had better attention getting ability. I did not measure decibels so I do not know which is really louder."


.....I'm not going to be that guy...but jeez dude... lighten up.

Fact is.. over the long term, and under extended use, (long blasts)
The light gauge factory wiring is NOT designed to carry the heavier amp load. It can and will fail...with potentially devastating results (electrical fires are a bitch to extinguish)

Now, the other side of the coin is that it may work forever on your bike if you only use the horn every once in a while and only for a quick burst.

The reason these companies add a relay is not because they want to throw away money..it's because they have an R&D dept. that has done the math and they suggest you use the relay to avoid wiring issues in the future.


I for one, appreciate that you did the side by side test, as I'm sure do others..that's what this place is all about.. Helping each other.

Keep sharing..but don't be so defensive.


Take this for exactly what you paid for it....



.

[MaineUltraClassic]

I have my Mini-Beast hooked up as directed with the relay and heavy wires from the battery direct to the horn.....no way would I go with the small stock wires with an air horn compressor.

I was going up the highway Tuesday at 75mph (3000rpm) and wanted to see what the horn would do with the voltage gauge. I hit the horn and held it for like 5-10 seconds or so, and sure enough I could see the battery voltage drop a little bit and kept going as I held the button in.

That to me says that the relay is needed as that compressor is drawing some power.

Steve

[ReformedHippy]

Originally Posted by bikertrashice

If that is the best you can do then you should refrain from offering advice you can't back up. The fuse would blow long before there was any harm to the wiring - no fuse blowing problems with my set up. Furthermore, if the wiring was inadequate then the wires would get hot, no problem with that either. One more test, if the wire was inadequate then the sound would be affected. My $39 Wolo hooked up without a relay is louder than my much more expenses Howard's Horns with a relay. Now, whistle boy, give us some facts.

:whis tle:
:redr olf:

[Mr:Bill]

I Installed a WOLO horn on my ultra and It sure does the job well, very loud. I Installed the relay where the factory horn was and mounted the horn behind the wing to the gas tank bolt. all by making a bracket between horn and gas tank, used gas tank bolt. very easy to Install....)
PS. I put the stock horn on the shelf. and yes I used the stock horn wires to the relay then to the WOLO horn, no problems.

[Mr:Bill]

Originally Posted by ReformedHippy

The stock wires arent heavy enough to carry the current/amperage drawn by the compressor....you may get by with it..(for a while)..you may not...good luck....

I guess that will happen If you don't use the relay. have NO problem with my WOLO.