Wipers

[ThickCobra]

I know that not every state requires wipers be functional. My state does, but if it didn't, I wouldn't bother with them. What a pain. In particular, the quality of the blade arms are sorely lacking. It may be a white metal material which I have found the teeth to strip easily. Now I need to try to locate another set.

Have others also found the quality lacking?

[edwardb]

Yes. I got them to work initially, but was never happy with them. I replaced with arms and blades from **********. Wasn't happy to spend the additional money, but they're much better. Use a wedge locking system that works quite well.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've put together several sets and have not been impressed with the sloppy fit of the arms and shafts. A couple minutes with a drill, tap and setscrew can make things more better:

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=71742&d=1501755471

Jeff

PS to Jay: Missed your call---sorry, crazy busy week---I'll give you a ring this afternoon or evening.

71742

[ThickCobra]

You guys are amazing. It's often the little things that get frustrating especially when you spend a few hours before dinner when you know you should step back and try again another day. But, knowing it's a common irritant and fixable, really, really helps. Thanks again. I'll try the Allen screw approach first. Hopefully I won't need to reach out to Taylor, but good to know I have an option.

Jay

[Gumball]

Jay - I'm with you and the others on this... not sure they're any better or worse than what was available back in the day. I have the FFR supplied version on my car and the appearance and function is great, but I'm not sure I'd want to use them daily. The real issue, as with other parts of the build, it in the careful set-up and assembly.

Also, if your car is inspected and they want you to run the wipers, make sure you put a paper towel under the blades so that they slide easily across your windshield.

[wareaglescott]

My state code called for 1 wiper. Didn't say anything about how it was powered or operated. I checked with the inspector ahead of time and he said a manually operated wiper was fine. I bought one that clamped onto the top of the window for about $30 and was hand actuated from the inside. Put it on there for the inspection and now it lives in the trunk. I suppose if I get pulled over and really tick off the cop I could get a citation for not having a wiper. Highly unlikely and even if I did the fine would still be well less than the cost of the powered wiper system.
The original poster in this thread is clearly beyond that setup but maybe this might be an option depending on your state for other people reading this.

[edwardb]

Jay - I'm with you and the others on this... not sure they're any better or worse than what was available back in the day. I have the FFR supplied version on my car and the appearance and function is great, but I'm not sure I'd want to use them daily. The real issue, as with other parts of the build, it in the careful set-up and assembly.

Actually, that hasn't been my experience. I've had three different FFR supplied wiper kits over the past 8 years. Each was clearly from a different source with varying quality. First I could never get the wiper boxes to align with the cables well enough to run reliably. So replaced the boxes and the rest was pretty OK. Similar with the second set, although the wiper boxes I eventually could get to work. The most recent (my Anniversary build) the wiper kit said "Made in Taiwan" and was different than all the rest. The gears meshed with the cable OK, but the wiper arm to wiper box connection was very poor. It had little tabs that are supposed to click into a groove in the shaft. Never did work well, and the fit was very poor. I replaced with ********** parts (not Lucas, but marked "Made in England") and all worked OK. Jeff's idea for a set screw is a good one. That would have fixed mine. Just didn't think of it. The parts from ********** use an external Phillips head screw pulling a wedge into the joint. Works very well.

Sort of an aside comment, I was at a cars and coffee a couple weeks ago and a late 60's TR-6 pulled in. All original and in pretty good shape. Opened the hood, and guess what was there along with all the other Lucas parts? Yep, our favorite exact wiper setup. I didn't ask the owner how it worked. :p

[PeteH]

This same basic wiper system is in all the British cars, Austin Healey's, both 3000 and Sprites, MG's, Triumphs and AC cars. Most I've encountered were single speed motors. Mid 70's MGB's have three wiper blades, not sure about early 60's models. Some of the "Saloon" cars had two speeds. I think Jaguar's are a different setup, with link arms, not a cable. Not sure about Jaguars, but the wipers on the others are marginal at best. They seem to run slow, and spring pressure of the blades is fairly weak So the tradition continues.

[Paparazzi]

With all the rain we get in Britain, you'd think that wipers would be the one thing that we had nailed down to perfection.

I went with the clip on solution like wareaglescout.

[ThickCobra]

Well, I went with Jeff's idea and tapped and used a set screw. Worked pretty darn well. I like Chris' idea using a paper as that motor is working pretty hard although I added a lot of synthetic chassis lube. I'm good for now.

I'll start a new thread on the side mirror.

[Ni¢]

I'd try to get it through inspection with something like this. Unless you have a top, it's not like you're ever going to need it.

https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-Removable-Windshield-Wiper/dp/B00DH3UQ9M

[Doug @ Forma]

I'd try to get it through inspection with something like this. Unless you have a top, it's not like you're ever going to need it.

https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-Removable-Windshield-Wiper/dp/B00DH3UQ9M

That's the exact hadn wiper we used to get through our Ohio state inspection. Had no issues.

We had to bend the arm to get it to contact the glass properly.

[ThickCobra]

Jeff's suggested mod using a set screw is working remarkably well. My brother's restored 1958 Jag MKVIII and '77 MGB appear to have the same or similar wipers. He appreciated the tip.