VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Windshield Wipers

When I turn the Wipers switch on, the wipers move across the windshield and stop on the far side, not returning to home, which means they do not wipe anymore. I looked at the mechanics and the linkage is all connected. I can move the wipers by moving the linkage. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Common - The wiper motor needs lubrication. This is what I would try first.
Remove the hose from the manifold. Dip the end of the hose in some Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF and work the wipers back and forth by hand. This will suck fluid up into the motor. Let sit overnight and give it a try the next day.
It could take two treatments.

Thanks ChevGene, I'll get going on doing that.

Turning the wipers by hand will suck the lube into the wiper motor? Wouldn't you have to block the end of the tube to get it to pull into the wiper motor? I guess I'm lost. The vacuum is coming from the engine. How could MMO or ATF get into the wiper motor?

On the return stroke the wiper motor paddle creates a vacuum and draws in the oil......Other than that don't ask me how but it works

This was even mentioned in the 1929 service news.

Look at it this way. In normal operation the low pressure (vacuum) is at the manifold. If you move it by hand the low pressure stays at the manifold, thus the vacuum effect is simulated by manual movement of the wipers. Put the tube in oil and the oil flows to the motor by the vacuum generated. The problem occurs if the motor has lost too much vacuum and can't pull the oil up.

Brian

I wanted to be sure some of the ATF got into the wiper gear box so I poured a small amount into the vac tube then moved the wipers back and forth. I know it got up there because it did not come back out when I let the tube hang down. But, I still have the same problem; both wipers go to the far side of the windshield when the switch is turned on, and they stay there. The only way I can get them back down is by hand. Then I turn the switch back on and the same thing repeats. I wish I could figure why they will not return to the home position and just wipe back and forth.

If you can't get them work on your own there are several folks advertising on line and in Hemmings who rebuild vacuum wiper motors.

Ficken from Babylon, New York has been a major rebuilder of Trico wiper motors for years.

dtm

www.wiperman.com

I've used the Wiper Man...Ficken Wiper Service...very good service and reasonable too

I had to pull mine out and work with it a while to get it to work. The oil will swell the leather seal that holds the vacuum but you need to get the oil all the way around the flap to seal well. Mine didn't work and behaved the same way as yours. I ended up pouring oil into the thing and working it back and forth to spread the oil, waited a day and the thing works fine now. I cleaned it up so the sliding valve would switch well on each pass.

Brian

There is linkage to a valve that reverses the vacumm force when it is at ther end of the travel. If that doesn't work it will produce the same symptoms.

Take it out. Clean the switch. Take the top off (don't let those screw heads scare you. Just use a good set of pliers) and clean and lubricate the paddle, etc. Seal it back up. Hook it up to a vacuum source. Your mouth or the hose from the manifold. Make sure it works OK. Reinstall.

If the above fails to produce desired results, take that ornery thing and put it in a sack with a cannon ball. One will do. If you don't have one lying around then some lead sinkers will work. It's the weight you're after here. Take it 15 miles out into the sea or ocean (pick one). When the GPS says you have reached you destination, idle the engine. Drift for a few minutes to enjoy the moment. Then take the sack with old vacuum motor in it (don' mistakenly grab the one with your "monkey food" in it) and sling that sucker out as far as you can. Quickly grab your camera and snap a picture of when it's at its highest arc and another one as it makes contack with the surface. A buddy with a camera would be much better. Anyway, watch it splash and go under. Then, sit down and enjoy some pickled pig feet and "sodie" crackers and a cool beer. After the thrill of victory has subsided enough, head back in. When you get back, order a new one.

Best,
Charlie

BTW: I was kidding in the last paragraph above. 14 miles would be far enough.

BTW2: Seriously, I'll be at Carlisle and Hershey in a few weeks. If you want, I'll be glad to see if I can find you a new or good used one. Let me know. Just send me any easy identifier on the motor (the book lists the part number as 4089935 but more information would be helpful. Like the TRICO number, for instance.

Whew! Lots of good information! I guess the first step is to remove the motor and open it up. So I'll be getting at that and will take things from there. Thanks to all for your help. I'll post the results when I get them.

If you are lucky the die-cast housing has not warped or been corroded. It can be rebuilt or refurbished as long as the housing is okay. There are techniques to reverse warping but the long term results are mixed at best. Corrosion is the death blow.

If lubrication does not at least improve the operation prognosis is dim. Replacing the paddle if worn is not to tough a job but does require riveting it back to the shaft.

I test my wiper motors on the bench using a vacuum cleaner. I hook up a piece of hose to a small funnel and place the mouth of the funnel on the end of the tube on the vacuum cleaner. I find that quite convenient.

The vacuum cleaner will produce too much vacuum (flow) for an accurate test but will definitely separate those with potential from those that are junk.

I will second that. If you get your finger in the wrong place with that much vacuum, it can hurt!

Well, I got the wiper motor out of the car. I opened up the wiper motor. I can't understand why it is called a motor after seeing what is inside. Seems like Valve Assembly or Flapper Box would be more appropriate. Anyway, I cleaned it up and physically moved the switch mechanism. Everything seems to work and nothing is broken. After I oiled it up real good I reassembled it. Without reinstalling it I connected the vacuum line to it and turned the switch on. The arms link (?) moved forward and stopped at the end of travel. It is doing just what it did in the car. I guess I am going to look for a good used one (a rebuild is a little pricey).

It is a motor, because:

Motor is a device that creates motion.

[Definition] from dictionary

check ebay item # 160460138260 asking $45.00 might be what you are looking for. this is a buy it now wiper motor. don't delay... they do go quickly..

When i removed the motor off my 31 and took it apart there was a fiber washer broken.Sent mine today to the filling station can't wait to get it back.

Ken White, Thanks for the tip. I bought it. I can not remember when I have had something that did not work that showed no evidence of a problem. (except electrical) I am disappointed that I could not get it working. Oh well, can't win them all.