Vacuum wiper control

[Joe Flanagan]

Today I disassembled and cleaned the vacuum wiper control thing that's under the dash. I would call it a motor but it's such a weird contraption that I can only call it a "thing." I believe the proper name is Tricot, which reminds me of a bra commercial from the 1960s, so I can't bring myself to use the term. Anyway, the unit cleaned up nicely but I have a couple of questions.

Does anyone know if you can get gaskets for this thing? They're very thin paper material and pretty complex in shape.

The other question is the odd little screws that hold the thing together. They were all finger tight and I didn't need a tool to get them out. Are they supposed to be like this?

Thanks.

[Niel Hoback]

Thats great, the name is Trico, but the memory isn't nearly as good as yours.

The screws should be tight as they are all sealing vaccuum, and the motor will work better without leaks.

I have no idea where you could get gaskets, but maybe you could use an RTV gasket maker? You could probably get away with Permatex #2 if the paper isn't torn or shrunken up too badly.

[Young Ed]

No way will any form a gasket work in this case. The gaskets have very small passages. The goop would just fill everything in. And yes the special screws need to be tight. I looked quite a bit for the proper tool for those screws and never found it. So you are stuck using a pliers or replacing them with something conventional.

[P15Mike]

Joe , go to Napa , they have a packet (8x12) of different thickness gaskets that work great for everything . It comes with 5 sheets of different thickneses and material . I think one is almost rubber the other is like cork etc . It also might come in handy for other projects that might pop up . Only thing is you will need to use the current gasket as a templet .... Hope this helps !

Mike

[Captain Neon]

If I were you, and I have contemplated what you are considering, I'd just send it off to Ficken Wiper Service. It'll work better than new once he's done rebuilding it. http://www.wiperman.com/ Any thing else, IMHO, is merely spending a dollar to save a nickel.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks very much for all the responses. Having just been through the spend a dollar to save a nickel routine with my temp gauge, I'm not so anxious to do it again, so I appreciate that advice. Cutting new gaskets would really be a chore.

[Niel Hoback]

I just looked at an old gasket in the garage. Cutting a new one ain't gonna happen., and yes any kind of sealer would only work to seal the tiny passages. The cheapest guy you'll ever meet says spend the money and send off to Ficken.

[Joe Flanagan]

Yeah, sounding like a good idea. Captain Neon, thanks for the link.

[blueskies]

I would agree with the Ficken repair...

Pete

[TodFitch]

I found a Korean war vintage repair kit at a local antique Ford parts store and did my own. However I will admit that the cost of the kit was nearly as much as Ficken would have charged and my results were probably no where near as good (what is the correct lubricant anyway?).

So send it off to the "wiperman".

[Joe Flanagan]

I don't know what the correct lubricant is. I do know that whatever they used was hardened and caked up inside the unit. I had to scrape it out.

[blueskies]

I don't know what the correct lubricant is. I do know that whatever they used was hardened and caked up inside the unit. I had to scrape it out.

I noticed last fall, just before I put my car away for the winter, that my Ficken rebuild didn't want to work when it was cold... After the heater warmed up the inside of the car, they worked fine. Thinking about calling Ficken and asking them if they will fix it or if there is something I can put in there to lube it again. It' has been working like new for five years though, so not too much to complain about.

I still have the trico vacuum wipers on my '53 chebby pickemup too. I found a new vacuum motor in a junkyard and put it in the truck. Couldn't believe how well they worked! That vacuum motor has been in there now for about 20 years, and still works like new.

Pete