Has anyone been inside/repaired an Alpex air horn? One of my horns stopped working and the other became really weak over time so I took them apart....a year ago lol. So much time has passed that I lost several parts & needed a few replacements that aren't available as Alpex doesn't make the 41173 horns anymore. I found a cheap pair on ebay so I bought them for parts but still have an issue or two. Inside my originals and in the other used set, there are two shriveled up gaskets but both appear to be on the same side of the diaphragm. I would think one should go on either side? It is possible that one got blown to the other side. Next, It appears that I lost the plastic "button" or "spacer" that distributes the pressure of the spring against the diaphragm. The weird thing is that one of the horns that I bought is missing the same thing & it appears that it hadn't been apart in a very long time judging by the corrosion. I doubt it but could it be right that the smaller horn didn't have this? It's the same housing but the horn is shorter than the other. It can't have worked without it I don't think but I have to ask. So the questions: Does one gasket go on each side of the diaphragm or do they get doubled up on one side? Do these have to have the plastic button (or spacer) with the spring? It must! I can make a replacement spacer and found that the spring is the same cone shaped spring as the inside of a flashlight using D batteries. Thanks for the help! David
A year into the project and you've bought a 2nd set for parts? You're the first person I've ever heard of doing this. When the horns give out most just replace them.
If you read the whole post the guy stated he had lost a few parts of the horns that are no longer manufactured so he bought another set off e bay to rob for parts. Nothing unusual with that. I have a vehicle that is 23 yrs old, I have recently bought another whole 26 yr old one to use as spares but as it drives so well I am going to keep using it till I need a major spare for the other one that will make driving it difficult. I have also seen LADA that comes as a two pack as the current Owner bought a second one to restore the first. This seems to be fairly common as my neighbour has two of them as well.
Classic cars (that are generally kept garaged and babied) are one thing. All original parts are prized. Horns on a boats exposed to the ravages of salt water are quite another. Not saying it can't be done. Just never heard of anyone doing it. More power to him. I just wondered if it's worth the time and effort.
The time and effort would be ridiculous in replacing with something else because not one other manufacturer has the same mounting bolt hole pattern, none are the same length & the only decent ones cost $1,500 & go as high as $2,500 which is nuts. Sure, I can find a set for $400 but they would look good on a dump truck. My horns are in perfect cosmetic condition & now that I have all the parts (for $100) I won't have to put in the time and effort to fill 10 holes in the exposed side of my bridge (2 forward, 3 rear on each horn). I can sell the "spare" pair which are also in beautiful condition to someone who might have a working set but looks like crap. The polished stainless Alpex Raineri Italian horns are well worth repairing as I'm not a fan of cheap, chrome plated "made in China" on anything. Just my opinion though! I simply wondered if anyone knows if the gaskets get doubled on one side. I'll try it both ways, figure which works & be done with it. It'll take 15 min.
Capt, I took them apart a year ago & pretty much forgot about replacing the two gaskets till now. It's not an ongoing, year long project lol! I rarely use a horn other than a 4th of July fireworks "salute" at the end of a show. I'm not one of the dorks on a 23' boat that goes blazing out of their marina, whaling on the horn expecting everyone to get out of my way.
CTdave: I have an alpex raineri model 556. Two horns with a horizontal lid on both horns where the broken parts are situated under. Two parts, one round white plastic plate, and one metal round part (looks like a coca cola cork, flat on top with edges). Have I understook that you have some spare parts for sale ? Regards erik oslo norway