VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Windshield Wiper Linkage

First time for me installing the Wiper system on my 31. Got the operating linkage from FS and D2D2 kindly supplied the mount bracket. It seems that the Control Linkage does not line up cleanly with the Activator Arm. I hate to bend it up so here I am asking for advice. Anyone? Al W. BTW, Sedan.

Take care to ensure you have everything where it should be before considering trying to "adjust" the control rod by bending. They are indeed a complex shape!
Perhaps you can let us know just where the misfit is.
If problem is just the outer hook, it can be raised or lowered slightly by adjusting clamp on inner face of windshield header. If it is not going out far enough to fully engage wiper switch, then check spacing of wiper from header bracket, may be too far away or too close. I installed one of these on my '31 Coach, perfect fit on outside, and appears will also fit perfect on inside once I install escutcheon etc.

I've done as much research as I have available and here's what I know. The Linkage Control Wire should be coming thru my Header Panel above the Riser Board. On my car I cannot find any indication of any hole that might be this. Were Wipers an option? Al W.

No, wipers were not an option. To install my control rod, it needed to be installed from outside, up through small hole in lower edge of windshield header. That involved also having to remove windshield riser board to allow room for the various bends in the control rod to be snaked through such a small hole. Although it seemed impossible, rod went into proper place with very little effort. Once in place, it is secured to back side of header with bracket/screws into lower edge of front wood rail, not much room for error there. I made my own clamp bracket. The control end of rod finishes up just above windshield riser board, in fact a slot is there for that purpose to allow it to clear. Finally, when the top trim piece then fits over riser board, the escutcheon then fixes to the top piece, with the control rod protruding through the curved slot in the escutcheon. I will post a couple of pics tomorrow as all this stuff is exposed on mine at the moment.

Wow - I never have been able to figure out my wiper control linkage until your discription...I am anxious to see the photos of the clamp inside the header. Every time I need to use the wipers I have to stop and get out and move and engage the wiper motor. Would be great to have this fixed.
Anxious to see any photos.
John

Oh Boy! Pictures!!!!! Thanks for helping with this! Al W.

I've posted some photos left, hope they help you sorting your issue. Quite an ingeniously contorted rod they used!

Great help! I'm off to the garage! Al W. THANKS!

Nice job Gunner! Once I saw the photos the rest was easy. It didn't help that I was putting the Wiper Motor on upside down! I'll be following your lead and will post some photos for others as I advance. Thanks for your help, Al W.

Canadian '31 Chevys had the bracket to hold the upper part of the wiper linkage rod. USA cars did not. At least the vast majority did not.

I make the replacement wiper linkage rods that several repop suppliers sell. Each is hand made to match an original. I highly caution anyone to not make anything other than very minor adjustments to the bends. Being hand made and having 11 bends they may not be perfect but have worked when properly installed. Yes only attempt to install from the outside toward the inside. I have always wondered how long it took some engineer to figure out how to make it in the first place and have it work. Still amazes me today that they work as well as they do.

The knobs can be purchased from several Model A part suppliers. Get the one that does not have Trico stamped in it.

Thanks for adding to the conversation Chipper. I did install the Linkage from the outside and it works fine! Thanks to you and Gunsmoke. Chances are I'll put a bracket up there similar to Gunsmokes. Today I'll get some Copper Tubing and finish up the install. I had bought a seriously neglected, unmolested parts car and am thankful I did. Had I been more experienced with this hobby I would have done a much better job of cataloging the whole car. Still able to see how it was done and with what on many items. Happy Easter to all! Al W.

Chipper, your comment on the use of a small bracket/clip on the wiper control rod as being primarily a Canadian item is interesting. As none of these parts were on my Canadian car when I bought it, after I bought the control rod I inquired of this site some time back if there was something to hold the rod in place as it seemed awful loose. Someone advised me that there should be a clip as I made. May have been a Canadian car owner, but think it may have been '31Sal or others who have been very helpful. I assumed it was on all cars and is so easy to make and install.

Earlier today I checked my '31 wipers and brackets. I need to make a bit of correction to my previous post to be completely accurate. I have only seen a wiper linkage supporting bracket on Canadian assembled '31 Chevys. In the two cases I found it was spot welded to the outside wiper mount that screws to the outside upper windshield header. Can not emphatically state that all Canadian '31s had the bracket. Have never found a USA assembled '31 Closed car with the bracket or even a hint that there had been one either inside or outside. Again that does not mean that there never was a USA '31 Chevy with the bracket.

Chipper, to bring this full circle, I checked my old postings, and it appears you and I exchanged exterior '31 wiper mounting brackets back in October 2009. I sent you the 'American" one I had (3.5" centered holes), and you sent me the "Canadian" one you had (3" centered holes). While that '31 "Canadian" bracket did match up with the mounting holes on my header, and fit the wiper fine, the bracket did have a couple of variations which suggest it may have been for different year/model/car. As you describe, it had an exterior mounted clip and stiff wire piece coming through the left side of it which served no purpose for my '31. The top was flat for about 3/4" instead of rounded. Also, the mounting points for the motor/screws don't protrude as far as the '31 I sent you, resulting in the wiper being about 1/8" too close to header, and switch not fully actuating. I will fix this with some spacer washers. My conclusion was that the bracket you sent while usable (and I'm glad I have it) is not 100% right for my '31. As for the inside clip, my car had a 1/4" hole drilled high up on header just to left of control rod, which led me to figure there had been an inner clip. A fellow VCCA member advised he had used one to hold rod in place.
Some of these seemingly arbitrary differences on the Canadian cars can be a real headache!

The learning experience continues.

I do know that the hole in the outside metal header over the windshield, slot in the wood and the interior plate are all that are necessary to control the wiper motor. It does not require an internal bracket. The extra support will not hurt as long as it does not bind on the rod. It is also hidden so no one would know it is there except you.

Here's a snapshot of my wiper inside-plate on my '31 Five-Passenger Coupe.

Good going Bill! I'll just get a piece of stainless and machine it to size and approximate demensions. I'll Post the results on the 29-32 board. Thanks for you time! Al W. BTW, I have the Final AC Decal and will get it to you and Chipper later today.

Hi Al, I see a '31 wiper interior plate/escutcheon and knob on eBay today, you may want to check it out.

Thanks Gunner! It's a rare piece but a bit pricey for me. I already found a Knob on an old one that was laying around. I'll most likely make one if someone will mail me a Tracing. Thanks for keeping me in mind. Al W.