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Yes, they do make aftermarket horns, but the sound is a somewhat higher pitch, not quite the original sound. Before you order a replacement part, make sure  you have a fresh battery I know that sounds too simple but that could be the case. Sometimes gently tapping the top of  the horn several times with a screwdriver will loosen diaphragm and get it going again. If that all fails, you can unscrew the horn from the frame, and very slightly loosen and then tighten the set screw underneath the horn. Also, check the relay and make sure it is closing when you activate the horn lever and gently clean the contacts if necessary.

Hope any of these tips will help.

Last edited by Lenny the Lion

There are a number of way to test the horn and Lenny has mention a couple. First, just turn it upside down and see if the horn engages, make sure your horn button is not the culprit. The horn makes noise by vibrating and the set screw underneath presses on the diaphragm, changing the pitch. Mark the screw and base with a marker and turn it 1/4 turn then test. again another 14 turn and see if it can be adjusted. You can also unscrew the horn from the train and test it a couple ways. although from memory...touch one corner to the train to keep the ground and test? also you can bypass the train and just connect a battery to it to see if the problem is in the engine, not the train, but I forget how.  Good luck. There is a video on youtube of 2343/2353 horn repair or something

@Mike23 posted:

There are a number of way to test the horn and Lenny has mention a couple. First, just turn it upside down and see if the horn engages, make sure your horn button is not the culprit. The horn makes noise by vibrating and the set screw underneath presses on the diaphragm, changing the pitch. Mark the screw and base with a marker and turn it 1/4 turn then test. again another 14 turn and see if it can be adjusted. You can also unscrew the horn from the train and test it a couple ways. although from memory...touch one corner to the train to keep the ground and test? also you can bypass the train and just connect a battery to it to see if the problem is in the engine, not the train, but I forget how.  Good luck. There is a video on youtube of 2343/2353 horn repair or something

I tested the horn removed from the engine with 1.5 and 3volts and nothing. The coil appear to have no resistance as if the coil is defective. The wire seems to be a heavy gauge so I am surprised that it has a broken coil. Too bad their wasn’t replacement coils available or Orem replacement horns available.

Also, one last check before you hit the You Tube videos. Use a fresh 9 volt battery - hold the horn frame against one terminal of the battery (doesn't matter which terminal) and tap the horn wire against the other terminal. 9 volts will NOT burn your horn out if you just give it a short tap, but the extra voltage will occasionally break through the oxide that forms inside the horn on the contacts.

Do you even hear a click when you connect the battery? If your hear absolutely nothing, connect the battery, then push on the horn diaphragm (the hole where the sound comes out) and see if you get any noise whatsoever. I have repaired a few horns and found one or two that had an open coil due to a poor ground contact inside the coil, but the majority of the time the problem is with the contacts being corroded.

George

Before you replace it try the 9v battery jolt per George. It really works more than not. Once you get the horn working it's usually necessary to disassemble and thoroughly clean every ground connection, from battery holder to horn bracket. Clean relay hinge and contacts with electric contact cleaner.

Chris

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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