View Full Version : Best Wiper System?
Theshandman
05-26-2022, 12:57 PM
I've trolled thru many posts here on windshield wiper systems but am interested in 'hearing' what folks have to say about their wiper systems, and where you got it. F5 has a system -they claim are Lucas parts, the same as the original- for $530.
Is this is good go-to option, or are there better (not necessarily less expensive) systems out there?
Blitzboy54
05-26-2022, 01:38 PM
I am not fully registered yet and have only used mine in a testing mode. I have the FFR offering.
1. Very loud - I don't really care because the the car is very loud and these are really just for emergencies
2. They are streaky - They don't wipe all that well. That may improve over time but if I was caught in the rain they would help but certainly nothing to write home to Mom about.
3. They look great - They really do look sharp. I like how they make the MK4 look like a "real car."
edwardb
05-26-2022, 05:22 PM
"Best" is an opinion. But FWIW I've installed the Lucas style wipers on several Roadsters. They can be made to work OK. But not DD level for sure. For my Coupe, and now my truck build, I've installed these documented in my Coupe build thread: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?26630-Edwardb%92s-Gen-3-Type-65-Coyote-Coupe-59-Build-Complete-and-Graduated&p=317637&viewfull=1#post317637. I know of several that have installed them on the Roadster. Cheaper and better IMO.
MB750
05-26-2022, 07:13 PM
167290
Seriously though, from what I've heard you'll get rain on the back of the window and the front due to the negative pressure in the cabin area so wipers are pointless.
john42
05-26-2022, 07:28 PM
I put wipers on my challenge car to pass inspection to make it street legal. Since then I removed the wire so they will NEVER come on. RainX is far better then having wipers flap around putting more water into my face.
mburger
05-26-2022, 07:49 PM
Ditto what Paul said.
I learned of the wipers in his build thread on this forum. Honestly, I wanted wipers and a FFR wiper kit just was not an option for me because it didn’t have the flexibility that this kit does. My Mk1 has heat and AC with defroster. There’s simply is no room where most folks put the motor. With this kit, I was able to install the motor that worked best for me. It was a lot of trial and error and I purchased additional rack tubes as I bent them and then decided I wanted the motor in a different location but the point is this kit is extremely flexible, high quality parts and yes less expensive than FFR.
I have the FFR wipers that came with the kit as an option. I think I have actually used them twice. They work OK, not great. Right now, I blow a fuse every time I turn them on. Need to fix that. (maybe this weekend) In any event, as noted above, RainX works great. Avoiding rain works better. OK, I'll be quiet now.
I need wipers to pass inspection. I don't know about "the best" but I got them from periodcorrect.
John4337
05-27-2022, 09:56 AM
I have the FFR setup and it works pretty well. I did switch to wheelboxes with a smaller gear to improve the swept area. This was a wet drive home from a cruise in the mountains.
https://youtu.be/srcA8T0qpvg
Back in the Day, through the 60's & 70's +, the Lucas Wipers were the only thing going and I don't remember them ever failing or not doing an adequate job.
However, I do still have nightmares of my passing, in the dead of night, a 16 Wheeler which was spinning off more water from it's tires than was coming down, on some two lane back road in Iowa and not being able to see a damn thing. Just as we got past the truck and in the clear, a car comes out of nowhere in my passing lane.
Today, we can add the Rain X concept or Griots Garage has a windshield sealer that I'm going to try. I do like Griots basic Windshield Cleaner.
Getting ready for the drive to the Open House, June 11.
Griots link for Sealer: https://www.griotsgarage.com/glass-sealant-8-ounces/
Maybe the same stuff as Rain X, possible ultimate test will be the road trip to Wareham, MA.
George
mburger
05-28-2022, 05:43 AM
I have the FFR setup and it works pretty well. I did switch to wheelboxes with a smaller gear to improve the swept area. This was a wet drive home from a cruise in the mountains.
https://youtu.be/srcA8T0qpvg
What’s nice about the wiper system I have is that as long as you have access to the motor, changing the sweep degrees is very easy. I watched your video and you were certainly going through it!
While we're on this topic (and you already saw above that mine is malfunctioning), I have a question. Hopefully you will not accuse me of hijacking the thread as it is all about wiper systems... My kit-supplied wiper option is installed according to specs, wired correctly, yet it pops a fuse within a minute of being turned on. Motor, in my mind, is still new, as this system rarely gets used. The switch would seem the only real point of failure here. Agree? Disagree? Advice? Thanks. We can now return to our regularly scheduled thread...
mburger
05-28-2022, 08:02 AM
I had a wiper switch blow a fuse but it was immediate.
Does it blow a fuse with the wiper arms removed?
John4337
05-28-2022, 08:14 AM
What’s nice about the wiper system I have is that as long as you have access to the motor, changing the sweep degrees is very easy. I watched your video and you were certainly going through it!
I have heat & A/C, so I put my motor in top of the DS footboox. I did check the gear and it was marked 120 degrees, but I still wasn’t getting the coverage I wanted. Wheel boxes with a smaller wheel cured it.
I had a wiper switch blow a fuse but it was immediate.
Does it blow a fuse with the wiper arms removed?
most of the time it has been immediate. i was surprised that it went a few revolutions yesterday when Tony and I tried it. Your comment about a switch problem is enough to lead me in that direction. I'll give that a shot. thanks, Mark!
chjort
05-28-2022, 05:13 PM
Al, check your switch for foreign object debris in the contacts. My heater switch was blowing the fuse every time I turned it on. Turned out there was a piece of rivet shorting across the contacts.
phileas_fogg
06-01-2022, 12:31 PM
Al,
I changed the F5 switch to a rotary one that better matches the headlight & wiper switches. If I connect the park wire to the park terminal on the new wiper switch, I blow the fuse immediately. My fading memory tells me that I read there is a rotating/cam-driven switch on the motor that keeps power to the wipers until they reach the park position. In many reports, this rotating switch sticks closed, causing the main power to short to ground (and blowing the fuse). I've never been motivated enough to pull my wiper motor and investigate, but if your motor is easily accessible you may want to see if you can find what I'm describing.
John
Theshandman
07-20-2022, 11:34 AM
This thread seem like a good one to ask a related Q... Is it OK to use a DPDT Off-On-On for the FFR wiper option in place of the FFR switch that has Park functionality? Sure, you would need to turn the switch off at the appropriate blade position to manually park them, so can the park function (the rotating/cam-driven switch John mentions) in the motor be disabled in this case?
Art
phileas_fogg
07-20-2022, 12:55 PM
I don't see why not. You would want to cover or remove the unused spade connector that comes off the motor; otherwise, you'll be driving yourself crazy in a couple of years when you're under the dash troubleshooting something else (Where in tarnation does this connector go?).
John
rich grsc
07-20-2022, 12:59 PM
If you're going to the trouble of installing a wiper system, why would you not just use the correct switch, and have it park itself ?
rthomas98
07-20-2022, 01:00 PM
I did the FFR wipers and then had to do a lot of tweeking to get them to work. But once done works great and fairly quiet. I switched the tubes for standard steel tubes. I also only single flared the tubes as opposed to a double flare as a seal isn't the goal. But down the double flare made it to thick for the wheel boxes to get a good clamp. I finally I put a nut and lock washer on the wheel boxes as well. Though they are threaded I wasn't getting enough clamp down to keep the cable from moving. Once I put the nut on for more force have not had a problem since. The last thing I did was bake liquid graphite onto the wheel house gear (the wife loved me for that one) Since the cable can't move much side to side it really quieted it down plus the graphite made for a smooth operation. The very last thing was not use the the FFR wiper arms I got some from **********. The FFR ones tend to easily pop since it is just a spring holding it. You can also drill and tap and put a set screw on it as well but I wanted something the would recess a little better. I couldn't get a set screw short enough that didn't stick out. But that was me being picky.
Theshandman
07-21-2022, 07:10 AM
If you're going to the trouble of installing a wiper system, why would you not just use the correct switch, and have it park itself ?
Excellent point, and I'll probably do just that... when the dang switch finally comes off back order @ F5. Or maybe I can find one elsewhere. I may need a temp alternate to get past Georgia inspection.
edwardb
07-21-2022, 07:33 AM
Excellent point, and I'll probably do just that... when the dang switch finally comes off back order @ F5. Or maybe I can find one elsewhere. I may need a temp alternate to get past Georgia inspection.
Cole Hersee makes a line of wiper switches. https://www.elecdirect.com/cole-hersee-switches/cole-hersee-windshield-wiper-switches. I have their 75600-04 in my Coupe. Includes intermittent, washer, etc. Overkill probably for what you want and not inexpensive. Their basic 75212-04 should work for you. $16 on Amazon. The one I have parks. But not sure about the cheapest ones.
JohnK
07-21-2022, 09:57 AM
If you want to stick with a toggle, another option is a Lucas 35927 Off-on-on toggle. This switch is made for wipers, so works with self-parking 2-speed wiper motors.
Theshandman
07-21-2022, 12:30 PM
Thanks guys, good input. Looking at the F5 parts catalog, Vintage Wiper, the switch shown looks like it could be a DPST, https://www.factoryfiveparts.com/15549-vintage-wiper-kit-roadster/ unlike the switch shown here: https://www.factoryfiveparts.com/15203-wiper-park-switch/. Not that it matters, just interesting... I guess.
<EDIT> On second look, they might be the same switch... The resolution of the wiper kit picture ain't that great.
Ron J
07-21-2022, 12:43 PM
"Best" is an opinion. But FWIW I've installed the Lucas style wipers on several Roadsters. They can be made to work OK. But not DD level for sure. For my Coupe, and now my truck build, I've installed these documented in my Coupe build thread: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?26630-Edwardb%92s-Gen-3-Type-65-Coyote-Coupe-59-Build-Complete-and-Graduated&p=317637&viewfull=1#post317637. I know of several that have installed them on the Roadster. Cheaper and better IMO.
Hello, I need to replace the wiper motor supplied in the FFR Kit for my Gen 2 Coupe. It will be almost impossible for me to remove the wheel boxes. Do you know if the cable drive supplied with your system will interface with the FFR Wheelboxes?
edwardb
07-21-2022, 01:18 PM
Hello, I need to replace the wiper motor supplied in the FFR Kit for my Gen 2 Coupe. It will be almost impossible for me to remove the wheel boxes. Do you know if the cable drive supplied with your system will interface with the FFR Wheelboxes?
I don't know because I haven't tried it. But my guess is probably not. The Specialty Power Windows ones are larger.