[gd1418]

I've a pair of Stebel Nautilus installed in my Scorpio for the last two years that I use only on Highways for stubborn morons. A week back I observed that it was not sounding as it used to before. Took to my accessories guy who had fitted this and his mechanic (Manoj) told me that the Stebel compressor needs to be oiled periodically as the impaler gets worn out if run dry. Didn't make sense to me but still believed him.

Today I got time and took the vehicle again. Out of the two, only one was hooting and the other was making a gargling sound.. Manoj said that this is due to it running dry. He opened up and poured a few drops of oil in the compressor (wish I had taken the pics) and then tested. Gargling sound again. He said the Stebel had gone bust. Now it was the turn of other one. It was hooting but not like when it was installed new. I was very apprehensive and doubtful. A few drops of oil and lo behold..! the Stebel roared. I had no option but to believe Manoj. Got installed a new one in place of the "gargling" Stebel, and the pair sounded a like massive diesel locomotive. Happy and contented returned home.

Anybody else here experience similar happening?

[ankitahuja]

Guruji I've faced the same problem with my Stebel Nautilus horn. It started gargling on one side. I took it to my electrician and he said there's dust in the horns. Stuffed a cloth in one side of the horn pipe and asked me to blow the horn, did the same with the other side. The horns came back to FULL life!

This didn't remain for long though, they started gargling again after a while and upon inspection, my mech said that the impaler/propeller blades have worn out (even though the compressor is running good). Got them removed since then.

OTOH I showed the horn to the horns hi horns specialist guy near Faiz Road in Karol Bagh. He said that we can add 2 horn pipes and make it work good. Cost would be Rs. 200 only!

[gd1418]

Wish you had posted this earlier. I would've been spared the cost of a new Stebel.

Originally Posted by ankitahuja

Guruji I've faced the same problem with my Stebel Nautilus horn.

This didn't remain for long though, they started gargling again after a while and upon inspection, my mech said that the impaler/propeller blades have worn out (even though the compressor is running good). Got them removed since then.

OTOH I showed the horn to the horns hi horns specialist guy near Faiz Road in Karol Bagh. He said that we can add 2 horn pipes and make it work good. Cost would be Rs. 200 only!

[badboyscad]

Gd sir, can you please post more details(model no, price, availability, pics and links) about the stebel nautilus that you are using. i ve been looking for these for a very long time with no luck.

[Jaggu]

Air horns have relatively very short life span, so dont bother too much. Either the pumps fail or the trumpets will die on you. Newer pumps are very tricky to refurbish and will hold good for a short while even after servicing.

Air horns have 3 major parts, motor that powers the pump, the air pump and then the trumpet.

Usual culprits that fail in the pump are the motor brushes, clean up helps for a while. Or the pump petals, which come semi sealed these days, so very hard to service. Older Bosh units had solid metal petals inside the impeller, new ones have mica kinda material.

Yes oil helps and usually a cotton piece is wrapped in wire mesh will be placed at the inlet hole. Oil can be poured onto this to keep the impeller lubricated and catch fine dirt/dust (kinda like air filter).

Trumpets once blocked due to dirt and water can also fail, if its dirt high pressure blowing will help.

[ankitahuja]

Originally Posted by gd1418

Wish you had posted this earlier. I would've been spared the cost of a new Stebel.

I wish you had posted before you bought a new set

Originally Posted by badboyscad

Gd sir, can you please post more details(model no, price, availability, pics and links) about the stebel nautilus that you are using. i ve been looking for these for a very long time with no luck.

BBS - They are called Stebel Nautilus

Website - STEBEL S.p.a. - Under products, choose ELETTROPNEUMATICS - Nautilus Series. You can see and hear them here.

GD Sir - How much did you pay for them? They are available for Rs. 700-800.

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Air horns have relatively very short life span, so dont bother too much. Either the pumps fail or the trumpets will die on you. Newer pumps are very tricky to refurbish and will hold good for a short while even after servicing.

Air horns have 3 major parts, motor that powers the pump, the air pump and then the trumpet.

Usual culprits that fail in the pump are the motor brushes, clean up helps for a while. Or the pump petals, which come semi sealed these days, so very hard to service. Older Bosh units had solid metal petals inside the impeller, new ones have mica kinda material.

Yes oil helps and usually a cotton piece is wrapped in wire mesh will be placed at the inlet hole. Oil can be poured onto this to keep the impeller lubricated and catch fine dirt/dust (kinda like air filter).

Trumpets once blocked due to dirt and water can also fail, if its dirt high pressure blowing will help.

Jaggu - You know your pressure horns well

This repair shop/guy I'm talking about is extremely well reputed with repairs. Has been there since YEARS now and can repair any/all brands of horns. Have seen Roots / Hella / Fiamm / Bosch etc horns all fixed and fine tuned to spanking new! I believe his repairs to work more than just a short while.

[suman]

Originally Posted by gd1418

A week back I observed that it was not sounding as it used to before.

I noticed this the day we went to CC - they didn't sound as powerful as I'd expected them to be. I put that down more to the fact that we were insulated from the noise since we were inside the car.

How much did the new one cost you?

[1100D]

Originally Posted by suman

How much did the new one cost you?

Costs around Rs 700 (in Calcutta though).

What are the trumpet horns the sort used in Army trucks? (Sorry for being a bit OT)

[me_sid]

I think this is due to accumulation of dust and moisture, try cleaning yourself before going to the mechanic, I have a set of air horns in my esteem, and the same issue after the rainy season. So i clean it myself.

[amit_mechengg]

even i have stebel nautilus on my alto since 8-10 months now. they are sounding just fine. i blow them as usual horns many times a day.
can someone post a picture here from where the oil needs to be poured in?

while buying i had inquired with the horn repair wala. he said that they can be repaired if they get damaged. he just said that dont let water get inside the horns. so i have mounted them inverted.

[gd1418]

I haven't paid for it as yet, hence don't know. When I bought the pair 2+ years back then I shelled out 900 per piece.

Originally Posted by ankitahuja

GD Sir - How much did you pay for them? They are available for Rs. 700-800.

You are right Suman. Stebel's are very rarely used by me within the city limits and very regularly & frequently on the Interstate. That's why didn't know about its malfunction. But after the service of the old one and with a new one, today on way to work the Stebels were in operation for some time.

Originally Posted by suman

I noticed this the day we went to CC - they didn't sound as powerful as I'd expected them to be. I put that down more to the fact that we were insulated from the noise since we were inside the car.

How much did the new one cost you?

[UniqueMods]

I have a old air horn from my bike. this is a nautilus air horn with 2 red plastic trumpets.

I disconnected both the car horns and in one socket i connected the air horn. pressing the horn only blew dust out of the trumpets and no sound. guess my motor or pump is worn out. wanted to add some oil into the inlet to free any dust or rust.

But to my surprise after 10 seconds of short presses the horn just went dead. i guessed the air horn motor got fried, so i disconnected it and connected my regular company fitted horns. they are dead too.

checked the wiring connection - looked fine. checked the fuse and it was blown.

My question is that, does the air horn pull more than 10amp which was the limit of the fuse. if so then how have other members of this forum connect the secondary nautilus air horns?

Have the fuse been replaced by 15 or 20 amp fuses or bypass the fuse completely ?

Any suggestion ?

also Hyundai doesn't give spare fuses so I am driving for the time being, 2 days, without horns till i get time to get new one and extra spares from the service center.


UM

[ankitahuja]

if so then how have other members of this forum connect the secondary nautilus air horns?

The Stebel Nautilus horn comes with a relay to provide the correct current. You can/should not connect the horn directly or the fuse WILL blow.

Buy a Bosch horn relay and connect it the proper way.

[UniqueMods]

I got the replacement fuse and the air horn fitted.

the nautilus system requires 15 to 18 amps depending on the size of the compressor, so the fuse is replaced with a 20 amp fuse and the relay is also connected.

Even with the relay/cutout the power still goes through the fuse for safety and then to the relay and then to the horn. this is required as the company fitted horn is also working as a standard horn and the air horn is for stubborn rick and cycles.

UM

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by UniqueMods

...Even with the relay/cutout the power still goes through the fuse for safety and then to the relay and then to the horn....

That is correct.

I dont know much about these horns, but im guessing the compressor is run by an electric motor?

As you increase load on an electric motor, it draws more current.

It is possible that dirt, dust or grime is making it harder for your motor to run and hence increasing the load = drawing more amps = blowing the fuse.

cya
R