Bent OD Electric Windshield Wiper base

Steve Plucker

Steve Plucker

BANNED
How would one succefuly take the bend out of an OD Electric Windshield Wiper base?

The cover fits good except there is about an 1/8 of an inch bend at the top. This base is popmetal so I do not know how it would be done without breaking it.

Maybe I just sould live with it.

Repro bases suck.

Thanks.

Pluck
 
Steve,
OD electric wipers have a base made of pot metal. As you probably know, pot metal doesn't hold up well at all over time. I think trying to straighten the base would probably break it. New aluminum bases are available from Model A Wipers and model A parts suppliers. I had John Holland restore an OD-C1 for my 28 special coupe and an OD-O1 for my 29 phaeton. Both needed new bases, as the pot metal was bowed and badly cracked. I think if I were you, I would leave it alone for fear of breaking it or if you just can't live with the bow, replace it with a new aluminum base.
Rusty Nelson
 
Dudley is referring to Tom Moniz. He took a badly broken pot metal cover for an OD-C3 electric wiper and restored it to perfect condition, mostly using J-B Weld. It was in a recent issue of Model A News or The Restorer magazine. He did an amazing job of putting the many pieces of the cover back together. I wouldn't attempt to do what he pulled off. I took a couple pictures of the article about Tom's excellent wiper cover restoration.
Rusty Nelson
 

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I made them work fine after placing the legs on a belt sander. When you install the rubber end caps, all looks perfect.
 
I have a OD-C1 with one of the mounting ears broken off. I purchased one of the reproduction bases from Bratton's. It was expensive. around $120. I was impressed how well it was made. The only thing I had to do it was use a Dremel to grind down around the outer edge a little so the cover fit better. I heard that the guy who was making these bases and other parts for the Owen Dyneto wipers has gone out of business.
 
Steve, I have had good luck straightening pot metal carbs on Farmall Cubs, not quite so old but subjected to much more heat than a wiper casting on an A. Worked cold using controlled force against an iron plate for support with shims, Nothing to loose if it's unusable now. Do a search on farmallcub.com. Mark Jacobson in Kuna.
 
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