Do Plastic Train Horns Suck?

There are a few things to think about if you are deciding whether to go down the plastic path or all-metal alley when picking out an air horn.  The first thing to look at is the type of plastic the air horns are made of, this makes a huge difference.   The preferred type of plastic is called ABS.  ABS is a very durable as opposed to some other weaker plastics that will normally not last very long.

A quick note about ABS:  ABS stands for Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, which I’m positive doesn’t mean anything to anyone, but it is used in many applications for its good shock absorbance and performance at a wide temperature range.  This means that air horns made of ABS will remain durable whether they’re in a hot engine compartment in the middle of an Arizona summer or on the outside of a truck in the middle of winter in British Columbia.  

Ok, so let’s assume you are comparing a train horn that has ABS trumpets to a similar style train horn with metal trumpets.  Just for the sake of comparing apples to apples we’ll look at the Kleinn 230 train horn (Black ABS trumpets) and the Kleinn 630 train horn (Chrome plated copper trumpets).  I’m going to break it down pro & con style and you can decide whether a plastic train horn is preferred or not. 

PRO:  ABS plastic train horns are priced lower than their metal counterparts.  With prices of metal on the rise, ABS train horns are a great lower cost alternative without sacrificing quality

CON:  Metal train horns will have a little different sound than plastic horns.  The metals that these aftermarket train horns are usually made of are not as rigid as the plastic, so the sound resonates after the blast stops.  ABS train horns will not have that vibration.

PRO:  The extra rigidity of ABS can also come in handy, if a train horn is under a truck and a rock comes up and hits it while driving, the ABS trumpet will hold its form and the rock will just bounce off.  A similar occurrence with a metal trumpet may cause a dent or a ding depending on the size of the rock. 

CON:  The extra vibration of the metal trumpets can help the sound output.  Metal trumpets will usually be a smidge louder than their plastic counterparts because of that extra vibration they get when the air hits.

So, as you can see there are benefits and draw backs to using plastic trumpets.  As long as they are made of a good quality plastic they can work just as well if not better than metal train horns.  Just to be clear, having plastic trumpets, as long as the diaphragms and trumpet backs are metal, will not affect the sound quality of the horn.  

Please feel free to comment and tell me what your experience has been with plastic air horns. 

Prevent Air Compressor Failure: 3 Tips for Setting up a Snorkel

You may find this hard to believe, but roads are dirty. Dirt roads are even dirtier. If you live somewhere where it rains, that dirt can turn into mud fairly quickly. Now that we’ve got that knowledge covered I’m going to show you how to prevent that dirt, water, and mud from getting into your compressor and jacking up your train horn or truck horn system.

The Purpose of a snorkel is to suck clean, dry location so that the crap from the road doesn’t damage any of the inside parts of the air compressor. Some onboard air systems come with an apparatus called a snorkel. If your compressor did not come with one, it can often be added on depending on what type of intake the compressor has. Below are three tips for installing the snorkel properly to keep your air horn system running properly.

Tip #1

The barbed fitting on the compressor is the only place where air can enter into the compressor. If the tubing is not attached securely to the fitting, dirt and water from the road may end up getting sucked into the compressor causing damage. Make sure the tubing fits snug over the barbed fitting.

Tip #2

The most common error when installing the snorkel is choosing an improper place to mount the intake filter. The filters included with these packages are meant to filter out small amounts of dust that are present in normal interior conditions. The filter will not be effective in conditions where it is exposed to dirt, water, debris, etc from the road. The filter must be mounted in a place that will not be exposed to dirt and/or moisture.

The BEST place to locate the filter cartridge is in between the fender and the interior trim of a car/SUV or between the exterior and interior walls of the cargo bed in a pickup truck. To do this, drill a hole in the underside of the vehicle and run the tubing between the interior and exterior walls. (See pictures below) Attach the filter cartridge after the tubing has been run through the hole.

Tip #3

If you are unsure if the location you chose is a safe spot for the filter, make it a point to check the filter a week or so after it has been installed. (A good time to do this is after a rain or after driving through a dusty or muddy area.) If there is any evidence of dirt, dust, moisture, etc in the filter or on the filter cartridge, you need to find a better place to mount it.