Kioti Horn puzzle

[PEJ5]

I have a puzzle. TBNers love puzzles.

The horn on my DK is dead. I checked the connectors with a voltmeter and I get 12 volts when I press the horn button. Applied 12v to horn and nothing. Off to the store to buy a horn. I hooked it up and it worked, I bolted it under the hood to it's bracket and shut the hood...no horn. Open the hood and it works. Really? Go figure.

I had about 30 minutes before I had to head out so I tried to troubleshoot the issue. I unbolted the horn in case it was a ground issue. Thought it made a difference, but no. No change.

I started the tractor, no change to the symptoms.

The hood can be down and the hood latch pin can be touching the locking mechanism and the horn blows. One inch further with the pin latched and...no horn! I looked for a hood switch of some sort and I do not see one. One inch - seriously??

I disconnected the horn wires from the horn and extended them outside the hood with wires, shut the hood and I get 12v when I press the button. At this point the horn is bolted under the hood so I could not easily connect it again outside the hood. No time left.

Feel free to provide advice, especially if you know what is going on.

I have lots of wire and connectors and two multimeters so I'll set up for a proper test eliminating one variable at a time. I'll test grounds, voltages, and current draw and I'll let you know. I will not be beaten!

Too funny.

Peter

 

[grsthegreat]

Boy, that is weird one. I dumped my factory horn after buying my tractor because it reminded me of my old vw bug horn. I installed one that’s way louder. Never had any issues. I don’t recall if it had a single wire or a 2 wire connection. If its a 1 wire, than it’s getting ground from lug down bolt. Maybe closing hood moves something that moves horn?. If its 2 wire, than all bets are off. I remember mine was a tight fit and it touches the radiator frame, not the fins, just the frame. Does the hood hit any insulation around the radiator that can shift the horn?

 

[Rebeldad1]

sounds like your loosing ground when the hood closes. horn needs to be grounded with a seperate wire

 

[justman777]

You could try having someone hit the horn at the same time you open the hood. If it goes off as soon as the latch clears, then it's most likely a ground issue. Like RebelDad1 said, try grounding with a separate wire.

 

[Rebeldad1]

And the answer is ???? What did you find out?

 

[PEJ5]

I found out that when company arrives for a few days one cannot tinker with their tractor. It will take me another week to get to it.
I hope the suspense does not kill anyone.

Peter

 

[justman777]

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

You can always head out to tinker with it. Just may have (or want) to take a sleeping bag with you on the way out the door.

 

[PEJ5]

You're going to love this (at least those who refuse to be beaten by a weird problem). I finally had time to work on my horn issue - tractor not at home so a trip is required,.

With a bit more wire I extended the horn wires out from under the hood to a voltmeter and then back to the horn contacts. With the hood closed the voltmeter reads 12.7v when I press the horn button, but no sound. No hidden hood latch switch issue. I jambed a piece of wood on the horn button and walked around and pulled the hood latch - immediate horn noise!!

I unbolted the horn on its extended wires, shut the hood and worked holding it. I checked the ground on the steel bracket the horn bolts to...no ground with the hood up, but grounded with the hood latched. Hmmm. Re-bolted horn, hood open, added ground wire to steel bracket to simulate hood shut. The horn should NOT work...but it did. Grrrr. Not a ground issue.

On close inspection I noticed that the horn likely touched the steel frame around the air cleaner (with hood closed). I squeezed the face of the horn, pressed the horn button and low and behold - no sound. After all of this it was a mechanical issue!!!!! I re bolted the horn on the other side of the bracket where there is more clearance and it works every time.

I can't believe the time I wasted on this.

Peter

 

[coldsteelva]

Are you saying the horn could not physically/mechanically make noise with pressure applied to it? That is a new one to me. I'm glad you got it figured out. You're troubleshooting steps were spot on.

 

[grsthegreat]

personally, i got rid of that small noise maker and installed a much louder horn in mine.