Stebel Nautilus Horn Not working Properly

[Mzee]

I had a stebel horn like this one http://www.amazon.com/Stebel-Nautilus-Chrome-Compact-Motorcycle/dp/B003SEBYF0 fitted. It has worked well for the past year. Recently it stopped working, but sometimes it works for a couple of minutes and then stops again. What could be the problem. Is it a bad electrical connection or is it the horn itself, which seems to me like a closed unit? I checked the switch and it seems fine. Could it be the relay? I doubt that it is the fuse, but correct me.

I have mounted it in such a way that water does not gain entry into the device. Those of you in the know, please help out.

 

[squarebore]

Might sound stupid but have you disconnected the two wires and checked that power is getting through when you press the horn button? If it is then it sounds like am issue with the horn itself.

 

[Mzee]

Might sound stupid but have you disconnected the two wires and checked that power is getting through when you press the horn button? If it is then it sounds like am issue with the horn itself.

I did check as you suggested. I am going to go through the entire length of the harness today including the relay.

 

[squarebore]

I did check as you suggested. I am going to go through the entire length of the harness today including the relay.

So was there power at the terminals? I'm guessing not. I thought I remember someone saying there was no horn relay on the bike. Checked the fuse obviously. The switch pulls apart easily if you wanted to check that.

 

[Mzee]

Sometimes the horn works and other times it doesn't work. So I stripe the entire system: the connection from the connectors to the switch is working. Replaced with the OEM horn and it worked. This is only a temporal measure. The problem is somewhere between the connectors to the Stebel. I have a 40Amp relay installed. I have temporally disconnected the stebel horn until a clean job is done via PC8. Then I will report back.

 

[djm_ct]

This is totally unsubstantiated. I can't back up what I'm saying but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the Nautilus horn is very prone to failure. Can't remember where I read it but I was considering purchasing one and the article or review that I read steered me away.

The problem was described an intermittent, much as the issue you are experiencing,

Like I said, it's just a vague memory, but hey, if you read it on the internet it must be true right?

 

[limey]

I've got over 70,000 km on mine and last year it stopped working the motor was seized and all I did was clean and grease the bearing.

 

[Mzee]

I've got over 70,000 km on mine and last year it stopped working the motor was seized and all I did was clean and grease the bearing.

I thought that the stebel is a closed device. How does one disassemble it? Mine looks like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Stebel-Nautilus-Chrome-Compact-Motorcycle/dp/B003SEBYF0

 

[Karson]

I think you have to run a hose from the compressor to the actual horn

 

[tomatocity]

If you search Stebel you should find a very well done thread on the installation of a separated Stebel horn.

 

[scott123007]

Buy a Wolo "Bad Boy" at Harbor Freight (or Amazon) for half the price and throw that other POS away.

 

[Checkswrecks]

The Nautilus is loud but does have a bad rep for being failure prone.

This is totally unsubstantiated. I can't back up what I'm saying but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that the Nautilus horn is very prone to failure. Can't remember where I read it but I was considering purchasing one and the article or review that I read steered me away.

The problem was described an intermittent, much as the issue you are experiencing,

Like I said, it's just a vague memory, but hey, if you read it on the internet it must be true right?

 

[Mzee]

I don't want to keep fixing the Stebel. I am going for another horn. Any one know this one? PIAA 85114 Slim Line 400Hz + 500Hz 112db Sports Horn Kit

 

[tomatocity]

I don't want to keep fixing the Stebel. I am going for another horn. Any one know this one? PIAA 85114 Slim Line 400Hz + 500Hz 112db Sports Horn Kit

A search will lead you to other riders that installed this horn. I have heard it before and it is loud.

 

[greg the pole]

I've used them on all my bikes without issue.

things to check:

1: electrical
2: The compressor should not fail this early
3. It's possible the trumpet is clogged

AS far as splitting them. There's a bit of glue that holds the plastic trumpet to the metal compressor body.
I mounted my compressor in the electrical compartment where my POS OEM tools were, and ran a hose to the trumpet:http://thetenerist.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/img_7852.jpg
and on the FZ something not quite as tasty looking but again same idea. If for some reason the compressor works (puts out pressure) the issue is with the trumpet
you can see the trumpet just below the alternator case; http://thetenerist.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/img_8012.jpg

These are pretty decent, and loud as sin. Check it again before you bin it. good luck

 

[Karson]

What'd you find out tracing the harness? Did you replace the relay and see if that's the issue? My 30A relay for my aux lights bit the dust in Arkansas this fall, likely due to the fact that it was a no name chiwanese made relay I had lying around.

I've since bought a few Bosch 5 pin relays off Amazon and sealed up the undersides with some silicone for good measure. Even if the relay clicks like it's engaging doesn't necessarily mean its still functioning correctly.

Just a thought of something to look at.

 

[greg the pole]

The local nerd store sells a single pole 30 amp for about $3.
Never had issues.

A decent ac/dc multimeter is a must for any home brew mechanic.
12V on the other side of the contact, and you're good to go, either that, or energize the relay and check for continuity at the contact.

 

[Karson]

The local nerd store sells a single pole 30 amp for about $3.
Never had issues.

A decent ac/dc multimeter is a must for any home brew mechanic.
12V on the other side of the contact, and you're good to go, either that, or energize the relay and check for continuity at the contact.

Yep - check for 12+v on the 30 pin position all the time if wired to the battery, or if switched, when the key is on.

Once you do that, press the horn button and check for 12+v on the 87 pin position. If all checks out, it's likely not the relay.

 

[Mzee]

Thanks folks, I will do my best to check before throwing in the towel.

 

[Madhatter]

hope I'm not interrupting with a really unrelated horn issue, but I may be... where is the best place to mount a stuebel or wolo or other????? thanks for the information.... i'll be trying to mount one this week end....