How to Keep Your Train Horn Clean and Well Maintained

By Yves B. Geller

If your train's horn needs to be cleaned, you'll need to take it apart. Different types of train horns require different skills to clean them, so don't do this unless you absolutely know what you're doing. It's necessary to clean your horn because as it gets older, things may happen that can compromise diaphragm pressure. This can cause your horn to stop working. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is to take the horn apart and see if the diaphragm is still intact. It can become dirty or worn, which will mean the train horn won't work as well. Many people now replace the original parts with stainless steel, because stainless steel is a lot easier to keep up and keep clean.

The next thing you should check out is the diaphragm housing, as this can cause a great deal of leaking to occur, which will influence the horn's sound. If this area has chunks out of it, you will have a major problem and it might need to be replaced. Try cleaning it first, however, because dirt can cause this component to become uneven, which will greatly influence the sound.

The O-ring, too, can cause the air to escape if it's compromised, and it's very easy to fix it. Just a little grease on the ring to create an airtight seal, and the horn should work well once again. Many people replace the ring entirely, which isn't necessary for the most part; simply clean it and put a little grease on the O-ring to reseal it, and you should be fine.

Next, take a look at the inner horn ring, because this area of the ring will get worn out a lot faster than the outer ones will. With a natural change in pressure, the actual horn itself might be bent, so you'll want to keep on top of this. A lot of people simply file the ring down so as not to have to replace it. Again, make sure that you keep this area clean, because once dirt can enter this area, it will cause wear very quickly.

Keeping your train horn clean will usually help you out a great deal because you can prevent many of these maintenance problems from occurring in the first place. It is a major mistake to ignore these simple things because it is much easier to simply take the horn apart and clean it once in a while than it is to replace all of these parts. Remember that many train horns are even easier to take apart, as it depends on the make and model of the horn. These horns can definitely be a lot of fun, so learn as much as you can about them and your horns will create enjoyment for you for years. - 21396

About the Author:

Yves B. Geller wrote this story. He is basically a car enthusiast but he shows his passion for cars through vehicle customization. He believes it's alright to use a train horn so long as it is used responsibly. It's actually pretty easy to install an air horn to your car, truck or boat.