Do Airzounds not like the cold?

[Holdsworth]

I have noticed that as of late my Airzound horn is not performing well, especially when it is cold. What I am basically getting is the rush of air when I press the button but no sound, or just a very muted "honk". Everything works fine and dandy when I bring the horn inside and leave it for a few minutes, it is just when out on the road that it doesn't work, not much use in that case then.

I pumped it up fresh for the ride home from college. It worked fine immediately before setting off with a test blow but within a few minutes of riding when I felt I needed to use it I got nothing, and the same again a few minutes later when I wanted to use it.

I think the obvious solution is to move to an electronic horn (not the Hornit as it sounds like a rape alarm going off) but the lack of feedback on what there is puts me off.

I would like to make the AZ work properly again, the ease of use and the sound it produces is what I desire, so is there anything that I can do to fix it in this cold weather?

 

[Matthew_T]

If you can hear a rush of air then some dirt might have got into it. I have had this problem with mine but after contacting Airzound, they gave me the right advice to sort it.

What you need to do is take the circular back panel off the horn. It has Airzound written on it. You will need to use a tool to take it off as it is very stiff (I used a wooden vice and stuck the panel in it and unscrewed the horn).
After doing this, you need to take everything out of the container (it will be the panel, a square sponge, a plastic ring, and a thin metallic sheet). The sheet it what you need to clean. Inspect it and use a dry cloth or tissue to give it a wipe (dont bend or break the sheet). It might appear that their is nothing or very little on the sheet but trust me, their might be.
Then insert everything back into the horn as it was in order. The panel will not be able to be screwed back in by hand so I screwed it a little bit, put it back in the vice, and tightened it that way.
It is best to tighten it as hard as possible to ensure it is waterproof.

I did this, pumped mine back up, and it worked better than originally. I live on the coast and often get sand in mine so I am sure I might have to clean it again some time. With being in Cheshire, you might have got some dirt or water from the roads into it. Just be sure to have a look.

 

[gaz]

My experience is they don't work so well in the cold.
I'm getting a new horn to test in a few days.. could be an airzound killer!

 

[Cush]

Tell us how you get on with the new horn, I will be getting a horn fitted when I get my new bike but am thinking of "The Hornet" or something like it rather than an Airzound

 

[Linford]

It is likely caused by the venturi effect which is causing ice crystals to form in the sounder from the moisture in the air you are pumping into it.
This was a common problem on earlier Kawasaki motorcycles with carburettors (carb icing) due to them sucking high velocity air in at certain throttle positions and ice blocking up the jets. They got around it by fitting a warming loop from the engines cooling system which was plumbed through the carbs.

 

[byegad]

Also storing them in the cold can kill them. Moisture in the tubes freezes and splits the tube. I store two of my trikes in sheds. Their Air Zounds live in the kitchen.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

My experience is they don't work so well in the cold.
I'm getting a new horn to test in a few days.. could be an airzound killer!

Is that that two tone horn that had a Kickstarter? http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lansey/loud-bicycle-car-horns-for-cyclists?ref=live

 

[Alembicbassman]

+1 for icing. Use one of those chemical hand warmers wrapped around the bottle to keep it warm.

 

[gaz]

Is that that two tone horn that had a Kickstarter? http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lansey/loud-bicycle-car-horns-for-cyclists?ref=live

No. it was the hornit. I have backed that one on kickstarter. In fact the guy that is making it got in touch with me about as he saw some stuff I had blogged about horns in the past.

 

[Deleted member 20519]

No. it was the hornit. I have backed that one on kickstarter. In fact the guy that is making it got in touch with me about as he saw some stuff I had blogged about horns in the past.

Oh, my mistake! I saw this thread when I was researching horns and thought it was from Feb 2013 not 2012! Sorry for bumping an old thread, moderators