Vacuum wiper fail

[RalphG]

For the first time ever I got caught in a rain storm with the 52 Merc on the way home from a car show. It failed the first test of the vacuum windshield wipers but I was able to see good enough to make it home safely. Found that I had disconnected the vacuum line to the wipers and capped the port. On hooking it up I found the wipers would just barely move even at idle speed. Maybe a little short on vacuum? Or the internal moving parts need work.
https://youtu.be/iOrG6wmXuD8

 

[tubman]

Mine worked OK on the '51, but someone on the H.A.M.B. posted about using brake fluid as a temporary fix. Get one of those ketchup squeeze bottles from the Dollar Store and fill it about a third of the way with DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid. Disconnect the wiper hose at the carb and put it over the spigot on the squeeze bottle. Manually run the wiper blades back and forth several times to suck the brake fluid into the chamber (the wiper motor is functioning backwards). I continued until I saw a drip of brake fluid on the floor mat (I tend to overdo things). I put it back together and couldn't believe how much better the wipers functioned; I can live with them now.

Make sure you are careful around the paint with the brake fluid and label the bottle and don't use it for anything else, ever. I probably should have crawled under the dash, removed the wiper motor, cleaned and lubed it, but at my age, that ain't in the cards. I can now go up the County Road 11 hill out of Breezy Point in a rain shower, and can see all the way up, if I time my shifts properly.

Ralph, make sure the wiper hose is good and supple. You may just want to replace it, as it's cheap enough and easy to do.

 

[RalphG]

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Ralph, make sure the wiper hose is good and supple. You may just want to replace it, as it's cheap enough and easy to do.

Thanks for that. I was not looking forward to working up under the dash either. And new hose is likely a good idea as this one feels a bit brittle.

 

[1942deluxe]

I had a NOS wiper motor for my 42 coupe and it would not budge. For 3 days I soaked the inside with WD 40. No movement the first two days. Third day it was unstuck. Have it on the car along with new hoses and a NOS switch. I was surprised how well the vacuum wipers worked.

 

[TJ]

Thanks for that. I was not looking forward to working up under the dash either. And new hose is likely a good idea as this one feels a bit brittle.

The brittle hose is probably part of the problem as to why the wipers don't work.

 

[Pat/Ohio]

TJ is correct concerning the brittle hose. I have also used Marvel Mystery Oil instead of the brake fluid.

Pat

 

[Willit Stop]

I carry a bottle if Rain-X.

 

[Merc Cruzer]

Mine worked OK on the '51, but someone on the H.A.M.B. posted about using brake fluid as a temporary fix. Get one of those ketchup squeeze bottles from the Dollar Store and fill it about a third of the way with DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid. Disconnect the wiper hose at the carb and put it over the spigot on the squeeze bottle. Manually run the wiper blades back and forth several times to suck the brake fluid into the chamber (the wiper motor is functioning backwards). I continued until I saw a drip of brake fluid on the floor mat (I tend to overdo things). I put it back together and couldn't believe how much better the wipers functioned; I can live with them now.

Make sure you are careful around the paint with the brake fluid and label the bottle and don't use it for anything else, ever. I probably should have crawled under the dash, removed the wiper motor, cleaned and lubed it, but at my age, that ain't in the cards. I can now go up the County Road 11 hill out of Breezy Point in a rain shower, and can see all the way up, if I time my shifts properly.

Ralph, make sure the wiper hose is good and supple. You may just want to replace it, as it's cheap enough and easy to do.

If you are going to use brake fluid, I would go with DOT 5 since it is supposed to not attack paint. My choice would be a light oil.

 

[1948F-1Pickup]

Make sure the linkage is perfectly lubed...... every single pivot. (and the wiper trunnions)
I have a brand new engine that pulls excellent vacuum. My wipers, by themselves, are barely adequate. Might be better if it were a one wiper setup. I have a rebuilt wiper motor and a Trico Electro-Vac. Makes a system useable that is pretty much subpar without it.

 

[Merc Cruzer]

Make sure the linkage is perfectly lubed...... every single pivot. (and the wiper trunnions)
I have a brand new engine that pulls excellent vacuum. My wipers, by themselves, are barely adequate. Might be better if it were a one wiper setup. I have a rebuilt wiper motor and a Trico Electro-Vac. Makes a system useable that is pretty much subpar without it.

Love the Trico Electro-Vac. You can run the wipers when the engine is off. Basically turns the wipers into electric, turn on the switch for the Electro-Vac and turn on your wipers. And the nice thing is they come in 6 volt and 12 volt.

 

[RalphG]

If you are going to use brake fluid, I would go with DOT 5 since it is supposed to not attack paint. My choice would be a light oil.

I was not sure what the internal parts were made of in there so didn't want to put in some type of fluid that might damage them. Many years ago there was a product called "neatsfoot oil" that was used to keep leather harness for the horses in good and flexible condition. I used to have some but good luck trying to find where I have saved it.

 

[Merc Cruzer]

Neatsfoot oil, we used on base ball gloves. Try a saddle shop for leather conditioner.

 

[Pat/Ohio]

Make sure the linkage is perfectly lubed...... every single pivot. (and the wiper trunnions)
I have a brand new engine that pulls excellent vacuum. My wipers, by themselves, are barely adequate. Might be better if it were a one wiper setup. I have a rebuilt wiper motor and a Trico Electro-Vac. Makes a system useable that is pretty much subpar without it.

Looks like a great fix for the vacuum wipers. I looked on epay and found one listed for over $400 and it didn't even look like it would work! Ouch!

Thanks,
Pat

 

[1948F-1Pickup]

Love the Trico Electro-Vac. You can run the wipers when the engine is off. Basically turns the wipers into electric, turn on the switch for the Electro-Vac and turn on your wipers. And the nice thing is they come in 6 volt and 12 volt.

Yup, I agree with all of the above. The only downside is people want a king's ransom for them now....

 

[38 coupe]

I carry a bottle if Rain-X.

My solution too.

 

[Merc Cruzer]

Yes, now that everyone has learned what they are good for, the gougers are gouging.

As a side note, the 12 volt ones were used by Corvette for their fuel injection system. Those go for over $1,000.

I found mine at a swap meet and bought it for $10. I really wasn't sure what it was for, and neither did the seller, but I figured for $10, it was worth it. The pictures below showed what it looked like and how it cleaned up. Some times you just get lucky. Look in salvage yards.

Keep searching, they are out there for a realistic price.

 

[RalphG]

I remember on the 47 Ford farm truck it had a firewall mounted tank which I always thought was a vacuum tank for the wipers. The truck never had working wipers when I knew it but I wonder if a vacuum tank would be of any benefit in keeping the wipers working at all throttle settings?

 

[paul2748]

Do not use dot 5 for the fix - It won't work. The Dot 3 & 4 is the correct formula. Don't use synthetic either, same reason.




QUOTE=Merc Cruzer;2247451]If you are going to use brake fluid, I would go with DOT 5 since it is supposed to not attack paint. My choice would be a light oil.[/QUOTE]

 

[Zeke3]

RalphG, does your Merc have the dual diaphragm fuel/vacuum pump? I thought they were standard equipment for 1952 models. I have also wondered whether adding a vacuum reservoir would hold enough vacuum to operate the wipers through an acceleration event. Hope to see a video soon of your improved wipers.

 

[tubman]

Do not use dot 5 for the fix - It won't work. The Dot 3 & 4 is the correct formula. Don't use synthetic either, same reason.




QUOTE=Merc Cruzer;2247451]If you are going to use brake fluid, I would go with DOT 5 since it is supposed to not attack paint. My choice would be a light oil.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks Paul. Now I don't have to do it.