Vacuum operated windsheld wiper motor
- Thread starter Winter
- Start date
Gary WA
Well-known member
RainX- try some 3 in 1 0il in the wiper line/wiper
-reattach and try?!
nkaminar
Well-known member
The vacuum wiper motor actually works by atmospheric pressure pushing on the internal vane. Somewhere on the motor is where the air enters. You can try spraying a good penetrating oil over the motor while it is working. The oil will find it's way into the motor along with the incoming air. That may free up the motor so that it will work correctly. If not, then you must disassemble the motor and rebuild it. Or send it to someone who can do that.
I use a vacuum pump instead of running the engine. If you use a vacuum pump you can work on the vacuum motor on your bench.
The windshield wipers on Model A's have a reputation of not working very well. That is why Gary recommended Rain-X, above. The problem seems to be the blade. As far as the rusty arm goes, you can sand it to remove the rust and then paint it with a silver paint.
I use a vacuum pump instead of running the engine. If you use a vacuum pump you can work on the vacuum motor on your bench.
The windshield wipers on Model A's have a reputation of not working very well. That is why Gary recommended Rain-X, above. The problem seems to be the blade. As far as the rusty arm goes, you can sand it to remove the rust and then paint it with a silver paint.
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Gene F
Well-known member
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=977060&cat=0
Can still open windshield. It's under the visor. Ya want a wiper that works...
Can still open windshield. It's under the visor. Ya want a wiper that works...
Marshall V. Daut
Well-known member
Too bad it's out of stock, as more and more catalog parts are becoming - and remaining so. 
M.
M.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
Vacuum type wiper motors have always had problems with function when the engine is in a high load situation even when the things were new. Add a bunch of years to an old zinc die cast body that likes to warp and a rubber paddle assembly inside that likes to deteriorate then the situation just gets worse. Some say mineral base ATF is a good lubricant. Sewing machine oil works OK. If a person takes it apart and cleans it up then vaseline can be used in the paddle pathway. A person needs a gasket kit to put it back together. The fact that it functions at all is a good sign.
When I was a kid, our old family 51 Merc had a vacuum pump with the fuel pump to provide vacuum under all conditions. On my old Ford and Chevy pickups, I just let off the gas to get a few wipes while it was raining. We didn't have rain-X back then. If you had to pass a car then you were taking your life in your own hands. We just slowed down if it was raining very hard.
Those electric kits have been out of stock for quite a while. They just used a modern aftermarket wiper and made a bracket on the milling machine for it to mount with. I think it could be done without a mill but it would take some precision hand work to get it right.
When I was a kid, our old family 51 Merc had a vacuum pump with the fuel pump to provide vacuum under all conditions. On my old Ford and Chevy pickups, I just let off the gas to get a few wipes while it was raining. We didn't have rain-X back then. If you had to pass a car then you were taking your life in your own hands. We just slowed down if it was raining very hard.
Those electric kits have been out of stock for quite a while. They just used a modern aftermarket wiper and made a bracket on the milling machine for it to mount with. I think it could be done without a mill but it would take some precision hand work to get it right.
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Just my opinion but the 31 slants have no visor to hide it. It's not pretty and doesn't run on 6 volts. Otherwise, OK.