Nathan AirChime Horns

[StreetNshow.com]

We now carry new Nathan AirChime Horns, check out the site and compare

http://www.streetnshow.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=125

[acracer]

first to post lol? a guy around here has the dukes of hazard horn,it`s halarious pulling into school lol.

[Bama]

wow those are expensive

[DJDAudio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bama

wow those are expensive

But the best sounding horn you will ever hear. they are top of the line!

[Wicked Mayhem]

you have dimensions on the K5LA's?

[DJDAudio]

The picture illustrates the K5LA as it is used by Amtrak and other passenger railroads, with all bells facing forward. The horn bells are numbered from largest to smallest; from left to right in the picture, the bells are numbers 5, 3a, 1, 2, and 4a. Freight railroads generally opt for the horn with one or more bells reversed. Common arrangements include reversing the #2 and 4a bells to give a K5LAR24 or the #2 and 3a bells to give a K5LAR23.






The K5LA was developed in 1975 for Amtrak at the suggestion of Deane Ellsworth. The horn was an adaptation of the AirChime K5H in which the #3 and #4 bells were modified to change the D# Minor 6th chord to B Major 6th. The "A" in the designation refers to this "American" tuning. The "L" in the designation indicates the use of a low-profile manifold, which was also developed specifically for Amtrak to meet their clearance requirements. All five horn bells are arranged in a low arc, compared to the 3-over-2 arrangement on the K5H. While there is nothing to prevent the "American" bells from being mounted on an H manifold to give a K5HA, this is rare. Amtrak did receive a few K5LA's with the horn bells spread over two separate manifolds, 2 bells on one and 3 on the other. These were used to replace the two-piece Leslie SL-4T horns on some of the later SDP40F's. The sound is the same regardless of the manifold used.



The picture at left illustrates the optional screen cones that could be applied to help keep insects and other foreign matter from fouling the horn. Many Amtrak F40PH's had horns with these screens. Three photos and horns at left courtesy Brent Lee.

As an attention-getter, the K5LA is effective almost to a fault. The horn is quite loud, to the point that residents along many commuter corridors have complained about the horns lifting them out of bed at night. Several operations have taken steps to either quiet the horns with choke fittings (see below), or position the horns so that the sound is focused down the tracks. Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner cab cars sport their K5LA's in a recessed area just above the coupler, as shown in the photo at right, to minimize sound emanating to the sides or the rear.


Factory tuning is B major 6th: (D#,F#,G#,B,D#).

The horn uses the K-series #1, 2, 3a, 4a, and 5 bells.


Although it was designed for Amtrak, the first production K5LA's went to Chessie System on an order of GP40-2's. The horn is now the standard on Amtrak and numerous commuter railroads across the US. Freight carriers CSX and Norfolk Southern receive the K5LA (with reversed bells) on their new locomotives. In a somewhat surprising move, 3-chime adherant Union Pacific received K5LAR24's on one of its groups of new SD70M's delivered in 2001. The horn has also found its way onto a variety of shortlines.

In response to complaints that the K5LA horn is too loud, some roads like CSX use the horns with restrictors or "choke fittings" installed. These cut down the supply of air to the horns and reduce the decibel level. The character of the horn is also changed

All credit too,
http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/

Nathan Airchime K5LA. Used on the railways as the loudest horn we have ever sold. They'll hear you coming for miles with "The Godfather" of all train horns. The Nathan K5LA provides the most efficient sound amplification possible. In my opinion it's the loudest thing I've ever heard. The 5 aluminum bells can be easily reversed allowing you to project sound in both directions and provide different options for mounting. The K5LA has aluminum manifolds, stainless steel diaphragms, and stainless steel fastenters. Can easily be polished or powdercoated for years of good looks and great sounds.
1/2" NPT Airline Input Horn will sound with as little as 60 PSI


Part Number: NAK5LA
Length: 16.25"
Width: 29.75"
Height 9.25"
Weight: 26.75lbs

Credit,
http://truck.hownd.com/

[Wicked Mayhem]

hmm i might get those n put em under the bed of the red dime...

[NevurMind85]

yay you guys sell the nathan horns, i bet those are worth the price too.