Goofy vacuum wipers

[DLK]

I am putting my car to bed later today for the winter but do have a question about the vacuum wipers.  My Wayfarer has a rebuilt dual action fuel pump.  When I turn ON the wipers they move across the windshield to the up position and stop.  If I turn them OFF then they go back to the down position.  I don't generally drive in the rain but I had occasion to last week.  I can get somewhat normal (but slow) operation by switching the wipers repeatedly on and off. Just wondering if anybody has a similar experience.  I suppose I could get the wiper motor rebuilt but for the rare times I drive in any rain it hardly seems worth the expense.  It's going to be a long cold 5 months without my car.

[desoto1939]

most wiper motors will go back to the park position when you turn them off, so this sounds correct to me. I have an electric factory wiper motor in my 39 Desoto and that is how they were designed.

 

If you still have the factory motor most of the times what has happened is that th eold grease in the motor has gotten hard nd stiff over the years. This then caused the wippers to seem to not work.  You could take out the motor over the winter months and then open up the motor to see how much hard grease is inside it and then clean it our.

 

This is a good winter project and should not be that hard to do.

 

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[Don Coatney]

Remove the vacuum line from the fuel pump. Hold the line elevated above the wiper motor and add some light machine oil to the line while you exercise the wipers by hand. This will lubricate the wiper motor and should improve performance. You can also add a vacuum reservoir with a check valve such as I have done as pictured below. Also have you checked with a gauge to insure your dual action fuel pump is actually creating vacuum?

 

[Niel Hoback]

It sounds like the reversing switch on the motor isn't working. There's a little plate on the front of the motor held on by two screws. Take it off but don't mess with the internals. Spray some penetrating oil in there and move the arm lever a few times to loosen the switch. You will see it switching if it's not stuck.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

I followed previous advice on this forum and filled my vacuum motor with penetrating oil and worked them back and forth slowly several times with the switch on and eventually they loosed up and started working by themselves.

[BobT-47P15]

I believe another thing you can use to soften and lubricate the leather piece inside the wiper motor is Neatsfoot Oil..........used for softening and waterproofing leather

shoes and boots.     Is found in the same department (usually) as shoe polish and other shoe accessories.  Not all that expensive for a smallish bottle.  

[DLK]

Thanks guys it is in off-site storage until April 1 but I will refer to your responses and put the suggestions to work when I pick it up.

[scott_53]

Wow, I just tried a little oil. Now the wiper work just fine.   Heard this before, but never got around to trying it. 

 

Now for the radio.  I hear static, but nothing else.  I guess I'll check the antenna connection first.

[BobT-47P15]

You probably need new capacitors....and probably new vibrator. Also need to see if all tubes are working. The capacitors dry out with age.

[scott_53]

Ok thanks Bob.....I'll do a little reading up on these old radios.

[DonaldSmith]

I think I posted some stuff a few years ago on how I restored my old radio, and How I zapped the vibrator to get it to work again.   I'm too lazy to look for it.