Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Hoping to have renewed MOT today...horn not working! Got very nice horn 'push' off E-Bay & a new 'pencil/brush'...same source (brand new) when fitted, the end of the metal contact parted company with the rest of the pencil...the current was checked & it was pulling over 10amps!!! Is this normal? Also surely the thing should'nt have broken although the wire does look to be no thicker than filament wire!!! UPSHOT: STILL NO MOT!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordleonusa Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Sounds like you got hold of one of the crappy modern reproduction 'Stators' that fall apart in short order.Dig a bit deeper for an original, like from rarebits4classics, Mick Dolphin, or Dave Gleed of Coventry Classics.L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks very much for the very quick response & advice....Shall do!Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Suggest you also check your wiring.All the horn push does is earth the horn relay.You shouldn't be drawing that sort of current.Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Think that may be the problem Tony.....it's a 1200 Herald convertible that was reg. beginning of Feb. '65...so don't think there is any relay!! Needs one presumably?? What was the 'timeframe' between being built & reg. on average, chaps (& 'chapesses'!)...as don't know whether it is a late '64 car or an extremely early '65????Many thanks!Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Start of production in Jan 1965 was GA169447. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 My 1200 built 14 AUG 65, delivered to dealer 17 AUG and registered/collected on Sept 1st. Not all were that swift. By 1965 the Herald was getting a little old hat. Many customers were considering cars like the BMC 1100 range therefore it wasn't uncommon for Heralds to sit around unsold for several months. Ours was unusual in the fact that it had to be ordered and took around 8 weeks to be delivered for placing the order at the dealers.M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Mark,Quote:Old hatWhy did S_T never let the public know about the additional power!I guess you are in the 188,*** or 189,*** range. Could you please PM me your Comm and engine so that I can improve my dating info. It's a bit wooly around these dates.BTW, too great an amperage through the pencil will melt the solder holding the bottom brush in.Con Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks Con & Mark.My chassis no. is GA164261CV ...so that firmly places it as having been built in '64...(can it be narrowed down from the no?)...It was reg. 4/2/65.Yep...that's what's happened..will have to get, yet another 'pencil' & get a relay fitted!(She's running a 1300 Dolomite engine with a single 35amp fuse)Many, many thanks, guys.Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Con, from memory the Commission Number starts GA1895 something. We're in the New Forest at the mo and not in the Herald but I'll email it to you tomorrow. The car has a GD prefixed engine be quite good to date that. I'd love to try and locate the old block but I guess there'll be no chance as the original engine was scrapped around 1981.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I think all this talk of relays is missing the point. 10 amps isn't normal, you need to find out what's drawing that current by going back to first principles with a multimeter.A fuse would be more sensible than a relay for preventing a loom fire.Cheers,Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks Bill.The car has had a new alternator....but when the current was checked the engine was switched off...if that makes a difference!As mentioned there's a single 35amp fuse, responsible for everything, but the relay would be there to prevent the horn 'pencil' from losing it's end...which happened yesterday. Another 'pencil' will be winging it's way to me on Monday...don't want anything to go wrong with this one....at least, not until the MOT has been issued!!!Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 GA164261CV according to my info is October/November.Narrow slot wheels came in at GA164781 in November, so I guess you should have wide slots (if original)BMIHT could of course supply the build date at a price.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks very much Con.....this is all fascinating. I did the usual and got what history the DVLA had, sent to me.With regard to wheels...she's still running the Spitfire wheels, that were on her when I got her. (Have bought a set of Herald wheels & hub caps....will fit them when the tyres that are on, are worn out...she's used virtually daily, all year round!)I am right in assuming that chrome 'rimbellishers' were not fitted at that time?Geoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazfg Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Most snail horns draw around 5 amps, with 2 that's approximately 10 amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cureton Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Billi is right on this one - the relay will do nothing if the horn circuit is drawing 10amps, it will do the same with a relay. If you really want to protect the pencil then fit a fuse - but fix the fault too! Heralds never had relays or fuses and don't technically need them if wired correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 3398 wrote:Most snail horns draw around 5 amps, with 2 that's approximately 10 amps. When they're working, but the OP said they weren't.......... Cheers,Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 There are 2 smallish horns fitted....sure I saw some the same/similar on e-bay for a Herald....is it a standard fitment for Heralds of that age?? Is it just best to disconnect one of them?? How would I reduce the amount of current to the horn ring??Questions, questions eh....sorry (you're all being incredibly helpful.Geoff.PS...I know I'm thick but what's 'OP', Bill??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 OP=original poster (of the thread).Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scimher Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 Thanks Mark!..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 If horns are really drawing 5 amps each I'd definately fit a relay,not a big job in the scheme of things. I wouldn't like that sort of current going through a pencil no matter how good. I'd also fuse it.Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 to protect your pencil for the MOT, fit a separate (10A+) switch hanging on teh bottom of teh dash with Horn written above it. Sticky lable is fine.Then you have plenty of time to fix the lack of relay problem.CheersColin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Quote:I am right in assuming that chrome 'rimbellishers' were not fitted at that time?I don't know. P/N 501655 was an accessory/option and I don't know when it became available. Of course the Vitesse and 13/60 had wheel trims anyway.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 My early '59 Herald 948 had these. My hunch is that they were dealer fit option.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyb Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I have a few sets of said rimbellishers going spare that I'll probably never use. Most if not all are NOS. If anyone wants a set, drop me a pm :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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