HornBlasters NATHAN AIRCHIME User manual

NATHAN AIRCHIME
INSTALLATION MANUAL
ULTIMATE NATHAN AIRCHIME KIT
WARNING: To ensure the longevity of
your system, reading and following these
instructions are recommended. Make sure
to change lters and to drain the moisture
from your tank on a regular basis.
Page 1

HornBlasters Nathan Airchime K5LA Ultimate Kit Contents
1x
Safety
Blowoff Valve
4x
1/2" PTC
Fitting
6x
Reducer Bushing 1x
Pressure Switch
1x
1/2" Solenoid
Valve Kit
1x
Analog Pressure
Gauge
4x
40A 12v Relays
4x
HornBlasters 1NM
Compressor
1x
Electric Drain
Valve Kit
1x
Digital Air Pressure Gauge
1x
Tire Inflation Kit
4x
8-Gauge Universal
Wiring Kit
1x
Nathan Airchime
K5LA Train Horn
12-Gallon Air Tank
1x
Nathan Airchime
Mounting Bracket
3x
1/4" Brass Run
Tee
4x
Compressor
Mounting Bracket
4x
22' Roll of 8 &
18 Gauge
Wire
Page 2

www.hornblasters.com [email protected]
Safety Tips and Important Information
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: To prevent injury:
Caution: To prevent the risk of electric shock or electrocution:
•Do not disassemble any electrical components of this horn kit (air compressor, air valve, pressure switch).
•Do not attempt repairs or modifications of any component. Please refer to qualified service agencies for all
service and repairs.
•Do not operate any component where it can fall or be submerged into water or any kind of liquid.
•Do not reach for any component that has fallen or been submerged into water or any kind of liquid.
•Use the included components with 12 volt DC systems only.
•Do not leave the air system unattended during use.
•Never allow children to operate the compressor or air horn. Use close supervision when operating this
equipment near children or animals.
•The air compressor will become very HOT during and immediately after operation. Do not touch any part of
the compressor with your bare hands during or immediately after use.
•Do not use this product near open flames or explosive materials or where aerosol products are being used.
•Do not operate this product where oxygen is being administered.
•Do not pump anything other than atmospheric air.
•Never use this product while sleepy or drowsy.
•Do not use any tools or attachments with the supplied air source unit without first determining maximum air
pressure for that tool or attachment.
•Never point any air nozzle or air sprayer toward another person or any part of your body.
•The included compressor is equipped with an automatic reset thermal protector and can automatically
restart after the thermal protector resets. Always cut off power source when thermal protector becomes
activated.
•Use only in well ventilated areas.
•Do not sound the air horn(s) in close proximity to another person’s or your own ear(s).
•Do not fill the included air tank above 150 PSI. Doing so may result in death or serious injury.
•Disconnect the battery negative cable before doing anything. Failure to disconnect this terminal can lead to
damaged electrical components.
•Use eye protection when operating drills or other power tools during the install.
•Ensure the parking brake is engaged before you get underneath the vehicle.
•Do not wire the system without the fuse holder.
•Do not allow the compressor to run when the vehicle is off.
Page 3

Recommended Tools + Addons
Recommended Tools
Optional Install Items (Not required but will make your install easier)
•1/2” Wrench
•9/16” Wrench
•Hole saw (2") [Digital Gauge]
•1" Adjustable Wrench
•KB1 Mounting Template (included)
•10mm Wrench or Socket (Air Compressor)
•12mm Wrench
•Wire Cutter / Stripper / Crimper
•Teflon Tape
•Add-a-fuse® - Great for tapping into a key-power source from your fuse-box. Can also be used for the horn
activation if your vehicle qualifies.
•Self-Tapping Screws- These can be used for ground points on the pressure switch, compressor, and valve.
•Zip Ties® - Used to keep your air line looking clean and organized. Handy for the runs of wire too.
•Heat Shrink Tubing - Can be used over the terminal connectors to better seal them up against the
elements.
•Loctite 545 Thread Sealant - Can be used instead of Teflon to seal fittings.
Hardware Specifications
•K5LA Hardware
oBell to Manifold
3/8"-16 x 1-1/2" Bolt
oBell Back-cap
1/4"-20 x 7/8" Bolt
oK5LA Horn to Mounting Pedestal
3/8"-16 x 1-1/2" Bolt
•Compressor Hardware
oCompressor Mounting Hardware
#10-32 x 1" Bolt (A longer bolt can be used)
oCompressor Mounting Bracket (bolts used to mount to vehicle)
3/8"-16 x 1-1/2" Bolt
To get started on the assembly process for this kit, locate the 5 horn bells and manifold for the K5LA. The bells
can be installed onto the manifold in any orientation of your choice. All 5 bells can be mounted facing forward, or
with a combination of 2 facing backward and 3 facing forward. It's entirely up to you. The next page will detail
how the hardware is used to assemble the bells to the manifold.
Page 4

Assembling the Horn
S
Start by locating the manifold for the horn assembly. A picture of the manifold is shown below. This manifold
will hold all five horn bells together in a flat configuration. The order in which the horns are assembled to the
bracket does not matter. You can have a couple facing forward with the rest backward, in any order.
Each horn bell will use two bolts and two split lock-washers to mount to the manifold. The bolt/washer
can be seen to the right.
Before you mount the bells to the manifold, make sure to insert an O-ring into each bell's inlet to ensure
a proper seal. The image below on the left shows this step.
Make sure that the O-ring is firmly seated into the groove on the bell. This prevents excess air from
escaping before it enters the horn and makes a sound.
Secure each horn bell to the manifold using a bolt/lock-washer on each side of the horn bell. Tighten
each bolt down with a 9/16" wrench until the lock washer is crushed. Do not leave these bolts loose!
START EACH BOLT BY HAND. DO NOT START THESE BOLTS WITH A WRENCH AND RUN THE
RISK OF CROSS-THREADING THEM, RENDERING THE MANIFOLD UNUSABLE.
O-Ring Example Mounting Hardware
Page 5

Assembling the Horn
Common Horn Configurations Standard
2 Bells Reversed
3 Bells Reversed
Page 6

Preparing the Air Compressors
•                  
•                  
                    

•                   

Barb Fittings
(Male & Female)
Filter Housing
Relocation Air Line
www.hornblasters.com [email protected]
Start by locating the hardware that was packaged with your air compressors. You should have a set of mounting
bolts, two barb fittings, and an air filter housing for each. A picture of each is shown to the left for reference.
Let’s start by taking the fitting on the left with the male thread and inserting it into the
compressor inlet. The other fitting (female end) can be threaded onto the filter housing
directly. Your compressor/filter should look like the image below. At this point, you can
use the supplied air line that was packaged with the compressor to connect the
compressor and filter together. Repeat this for all 4 compressors.
**This line is not meant to hold pressure. Do not use this for anything other than
the filter.
Connect fittings to
compressor & filter
Route 3/8" air line in
between filter/compressor
Filter Placement
Your compressor is fully sealed against the elements. If the compressor is mounted outside with the air filter on
the end of the compressor, the filter will get wet and water will get pulled into the compressor. To prevent this,
the filter must be relocated to an ENCLOSED AND DRY location. If your compressor is mounted in the bed of
your truck or underneath the bed, the filter could be relocated into the cab of the vehicle. The filter must be
relocated to an area where it will not be exposed to debris or moisture.
If the air filter is not relocated, the compressor will pull in water/dirt and will stop working properly. 9
out of 10 compressors that fail within the first year have pulled in water/debris from the intake.
WE DO NOT WARRANTY COMPRESSORS THAT HAVE FAILED DUE TO WATER/DEBRIS
BEING PULLED INTO THE INTAKE/FILTER
Page 7

Prepping The Compressors
S
Let's set the compressors up with their respective brackets. Locate the four L-shaped compressor brackets that
were packed with your air compressors. Each bracket will hold one compressor.
1. Position the air compressor mounting feet over the bracket so that the four feet line up with the slots on the
bracket.
2. Locate the supplied mounting hardware that was packed with the air compressor.
3. Secure the air compressor to the bracket with the hardware from step 2. The diagram below shows how the
hardware needs to be assembled.
4. Tighten down each nut/bolt combination with the Phillips-head screwdriver and wrench. Repeat this step for
all four air compressors/brackets.
5. Check and ensure that the air line used to re-route the air filter is not kinked on the bracket. The
compressor can be moved around the slots to ensure a proper fit.
Mounting bolt
Flat washer
Compressor foot
Rubber bushing
Mounting surface
Flat washer
Lock washer
Nut
Compressor Placement Notes
•Make sure all four compressors are mounted close enough to the tank so that the leader hoses from each
compressor can connect into the tank. If you need to mount the four compressors further away from the
tank, we sell fittings that can be used to extend the hose on the compressor.
•Try to mount the compressors in a dry area if possible, this helps the compressors last longer and prevents
the finish from tarnishing over time.
•Be careful when handling the compressors. Do not use the head (part with fins) as a carry handle.
The head can crack/break off due to the weight of the compressor. Always handle the compressor by the
cylinder/crank case.
•The compressors will get hot as they run. This is normal but take this into consideration when installing your
compressors.
•Make sure the compressors have air flow at their install location as they will generate heat as they run.
•Do not under any circumstance mount the air filter directly to the compressor if it is mounted outside the
vehicle. The filter will get wet and the compressor will pull in water. This is not good for the compressor!
•Mount the compressors in an upright position when possible. The compressors will still work if mounted
sideways, but gravity will pull the piston to one side of the cylinder and it will wear quicker on that side.
Page 8

Recommended Tank Assembly
The fittings on each end of
the tank can be reversed to
opposite ends if needed.
<< >>
Make sure to use teflon tape
on ALL fittings when plumbing
them into the tank!
The fitting on the bottom of
the tank (between the legs)
must be threaded in as far as
you can get it. This fitting will
not clear the mounting
surface unless it is threaded
in ALL THE WAY.
This assembly show a fitting configuration if
you plan to mount the tank upright. If you
plan to mount the tank upside down, an
elbow will be need to relocate the pressure
switch. When mounting upside down, the
pressure switch and elbow fitting on the
bottom will be reversed (switch sides) and
the pressure switch is too tall to clear the
legs of the tank, if you mount this on a flat
surface.
Right End Port
Left End Port
Safety Blowoff
Valve
Outlet
fitting for
1/2" line
to horns
1/2" x 1/4"
Reducer
Page 9
Air Gauge + Dig.
Gauge Sending Unit
1/4" Run Tee 1/4" Run Tee
3/4" x 1/2"
Reducer + 1/2"
x 1/4" Reducer
Electric Drain Valve
Outlet
Pressure Switch +
1/2" x 1/8" Reducer
1/2" x 1/4" Reducer + 1/4" Run
Tee
< 1/2" x 1/4"
Reducer >
Tire Inflation Kit
Outlet

Plumbing the Compressors Into the Tank
•                  
•                  
                    

•                   
www.hornblasters.com [email protected]
Now that the compressor's are plumbed into the tank, let's get the horns connected. Locate the roll of
1/2" air line that was supplied with your kit. Make sure both ends are cut straight/flush.
If one end is not cut straight, the line will not make a proper seal in the fitting. Once
the line is cut, go ahead and push the line into the fitting on the end of the tank.
The line will push into the fitting and lock into place once pressure is applied.
Be careful not to bend the airline right out of the fitting. This can
cause the fitting to leak over time. Take a larger bend further away
from the fitting to prevent the line from stretching the fitting out.
These fittings can be re-used with the same line multiple times. If
you need to remove the line, follow these steps:
Plumbing the Air Valve to the Tank
Compressors
1 + 2
Compressors
3 + 4
Route the leader hose from each
compressor into each run tee as
shown to the right. Make sure to
HAND-TIGHTEN ONLY! If these
fittings are over-tightened, they will
leak constantly. You can tighten these
with an 1/8" turn from a wrench after
hand-tight. Do not tighten any further!
Do not use Teflon tape on the
compressors fittings. They will need to
thread directly into the run tee's as
shown to the right.
GOOD CUT POOR CUT
Page 10