Hi new to the forum and new to me used train horns K3L. I need some help the horns i bought, they have been through lots of winters in Canada and have salt corrosion in the air chamber so i will weld up where need be and remachine them, what i need to know is where the Diaphragm sits on the nozzle should that be the same height as where the Diaphragm sits on the outer part? On mine with the diaphragm sitting on the outer ledge the diaphragm is not touching the nozzle ledge to seal its .020 down. I think they should be the same height but salt and wear over time is why its .020 down correct? If someone knows where i can find these spec that would be very helpful!! Sorry if i posted this in the wrong place.
Welcome to the forum. If you need to remachine the nozzles or chamber you’ll probably have to weld in a ring of sorts to give you that initial raise in height again. I’m not sure what the exact numbers are, but if you get onto the Horn & Whistle board there should definitely be some members over there who can help out with advice on rebuilding the K chime internally. There’s also an extensive list of literature to search through.
If all else fails, get in touch with the famous Mike Muha at South Bay Horn Works:
https://sites.google.com/site/southbayhornworks/
Thanks i will read through your links!!! I also email Mike to see if he can give me the heights i am after!!!
DBO, you were right Mike just replied to my email with all the specs that i needed and he even sent pictures to!!! Very nice to see someone so passionate about repairing old train horns like Mike is!! Also if you read this, Thanks very much Mike!!!
Wow - talk about a quick turnaround 
Good to hear that the legend lives up to the name. Share some details of what you have to do - and what you will do to the horns to get them back up to spec. I’m sure it’ll help others here as well. 
Yes Mike was very fast to get back to me about 2 to 3 hours! I think i will weld up the bad spots then cut about .03 to .06 off to get me all new surface for the Diaphragm to push on. In case anyone needs to know the 2 ledges the Diaphragm pushes against are the same height so mine a wore down .02 nothing alittle welding and cutting can’t fix!!! Here is a pic of #1 horn the one in need of the most repair.
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/001%202_zpsiwhmyqhs.jpg.html)[/IMG]
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/002%202_zpsdydaiz2p.jpg.html)[/IMG]
Here is a pic of my tank and compressor installed in the box
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/003_zpswqghjmax.jpg.html)[/IMG]
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/019_zpszdd8edfp.jpg.html)[/IMG]
I cut .040 off this one, done. It would have be nice to have a little wider ledge about .040 and its not worth it to weld it all up or boring it out and making a sleeve for .040 i will test how it seals when i get it back together, i am sure it will fine.
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/010%202_zpsl77zhq9u.jpg.html)[/IMG]
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/009%202_zpsuwgbhfgp.jpg.html)[/IMG]
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/007_zpswyk9s9fa.jpg.html)[/IMG]
Ahhh to have a lathe big enough to mount a K bell (bliss ;))
Nice job on all that.
Ya its nice to have a big lathe 14/40 and next door my bother has a lathe twice as big as mine. Whats really nice is having a bridgeport mill and a 20/40/ 20 cnc mill. I am going to get some stainless next week and make new Diaphragms and Diffusers on my cnc machining center
All finished and mounted, I used a remote fob for my horn button so i can put it anywhere in the truck. I used 5/8 air line from the tank to the valve, the valve is direct mounted to the horn base. Damm this horn is loud even with the box cover and the tail gate up. Its all mounted inside the box because of canada salt winters. I can pull the gooseneck pin and one air line and the electric connector and remove it in 5 mins!! Thanks for the help!
](http://s233.photobucket.com/user/tracy588/media/017_zpso8jhykp1.jpg.html)[/IMG]
Nice mounting and restoration. One thing that some people do not realize is that these locomotive horns were never meant to be mounted underneath a road vehicle and they are very quickly damaged as yours was when you got it.
However, and to bash todaze railroads and the FRA, locomotive horns were never meant to be mounted near the stack of a locomotive, but instead, right up on the cab. So many horns are severely damaged by the heat and cinders. Sigh…The Canadian roads took such good care of their horns that many have survived, including serial # 1,2 &3. Here is serial #1 at a recent horn honk. This thing weighs a ton because its power chambers and caps are bronze. But it survived!! Note all the coats of paint from different railroads. Also note the serial number on the base-front and seen just below the central horn bell…
Nice to see a #1 horn is still alive, as for my horn i was told it was mounted on a Pete but he didn’t say where and i don’t think it was on the roof by the salt/water damage in the power chamber. It should stay safe and dry inside my truck box with the tailgate locked!!!
So how did mike turn these horns,just holding in the chuck,not between centers?