TheSamba.com :: View topic - 6 v. wiper motor. with a 12 volt charge system. how long wil

Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:46 pm

how long will my wiper motor last. ??? 1962 beetle..

anyone ever do a 12v. conversion and leave the 6v. wiper motor .. i just hooked up my wiper motor and it works perfect.. but how long will it last..with 12 volts running through it?? im in Southern California. "long beach area" and rain is not a number one issue here..

it will be used.. but not often..

any advice.. or comments from those who have followed this same procedure.. ??????????????

im wondering if i should save and buy a 12v wiper motor. or just use what i got until it burns out..how long will it last.??

JR>LBR

Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:12 am

I don't know what the "run to failure" time frame is for over-volting a 6v wiper motor at 12v, but you may want to replace the existing motor armature with a 12v unit made by Wolfsburg West (link at bottom).

I bought a 66 bug with a botched 6 to 12v conversion back in 1998 and tried just running the unit at the higher voltage. I discovered that because the motor was now running WAY to fast, the inertia forced the linkage to over-run the park cam, meaning the wipers would not swtich off unless I was able to press the off switch at exactly the right moment then the wipers were in the parked position.... a real safety hazzard since I was distracted during already bad driving conditions.

About 1999 WW came out with a replacement armature that was installed and running in less than an hour.

If you go this route two pointers: BE SURE the motor in your vehicle will accept the armiture solds by WW. (It should, but strange things happen to bugs...) Second, grab a Bently book at the library if you don't have one and familarize yourself with the steps required for getting the wiper assembly out of the car so things go smoothly.

Scoots.

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113955811B

Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:51 am

PSScoots recommendation about the WW armature is the best route, however, I've been watching the WW site for a while trying to get one of these, and they have been "out of stock" for a long time. Cip1 also sells these, but they too have been out of stock for a while. Anyone know where else to find these things?

Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:43 am

I havent done mine yet, as I am just doing the conversion now, but I have heard that they make a voltage drop for leaving the 6v motor in with a 12v system.

Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:21 am

Check these guys out:

http://www.800luvbugg.com/shop?store=2&keywords=voltage+drop

Dan

Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:00 pm

hhhmmmm.

wow. i didnt know thy made a conversion kit.. i thought you just buy the new windshield wiper assembly as a entire piece..

i think ill wait an see what happens.. or how long this wiper assembly will last..without converting it ..

i think my buddy has a old wiper system from his 67..

would a 67 assembly work on my car..?? ( WIRING WISE, AND SWITCH WISE) i know they have variable speeds, so would i have to put a 67 switch in also???

JR>LBR

Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:18 pm

The voltage drop is only $9.99.

It goes between the 12v hot wire and drops it to 6v on the other side that
goes to your six volt whatever.

Better than burning up you wiper in my opinion.

To your original question, not sure how long a 6 volt motor will last with
12 volts going through it.

That being said, I still have a 6 volt starter with 12 volts blazing through
it on my 66. ( With 12V conversion } It has been that way for years.

Dan

Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:26 pm

dantrefethen...

is there anyway. you could find me a diagram and show me what wire i adapt it too.. i just found the voltage regulator in my buddies 67 im working on and said i could have it.. holy crap.. its brand new and in the package.. im going to install it rite now..

that is ,, when i find where it goes.. :?

is it the wire that goes from the switch to the fues ???

Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:42 pm

Fluxcap was mentioning that the WW online catalog is showing "out of stock". If you see this notice and really need the part: call. The parts counter person can frequently tell you why the item's been out of stock (discontinued, vendor problems, quality control issues) and if/when it is expected to be back in stock. If WW is not going to be restocking in a reasonable length of time, they are very good about refering you to another vendor so you're not left twisting in the wind.

The other reason to call is the web page catalog has a quirk. The web page is linked to specific VW parts numbers... so if you need a Widget, the computer looks for VW 111-xxx-xxx-A and reports "out of stock". What the computer doesn't see is the pile of VW 111-xxx-xxx-C's sitting in the next bin and not entered into the data base. So call.. the clerks know what's in stock and if they can be substituted. I'm about 45 minutes away from WW and deal with them face to face on a regular basis... they have a lot more stuff than is shown in the cataloge.

As far as the voltage drop adaptor is concerned, I prefer my electrical to be as close to stock as possible. It's just a preference - I don't like looking at a lot of after-market gizmos behind the dash.

If Jr.LBR does decide to go the voltage drop adaptor route... don't drill into the dashboard to place the new control knob... BIG PENALTY POINTS for drilling when you try to re-sell the car. Try mounting the knob under the dash where extra holes are more easily forgiven.

I don't know about electrical/mechanical interchangability for a 6v1962 to 12v1967 swap out. Volkswagen went thru a LOT of mechanical revisions for the wipers over the years, besure it will actually fit. There are a few guys on SAMBA that do nothing but restore winshield wiper assemblies... hunt them down and ask, they will know off the top of their heads.

Scoots

Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:51 pm

The 12 volt wiper armature from WW is no longer available. They had some done they were not happy with them so it will be awail before you see them. But you can convert them other ways. DL

Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:33 pm

See if this helps
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217076
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=217302

Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:58 am

Every site I have checked shows the drop in armature "out of stock" or
"awaiting shipment"

I have used the varible speed volt drop many times and it works fine...

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C13%2D9344

Gives you the advantage the varible speed without having to find a 2 speed motor and switch and hassle with all that. But that is another option...

Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:20 am

Keifernet,
How/where did you mount the variable speed drop? Is it possible to mount it in the stock location (ie..is there enough room on the back side of the dash?) so the switch can be in the same location as the stock switch?

I'm interested in going this route, but don't want to have drill any extra holes. I'm not really worried if I have to lose the windshield washer fluid functionality.

Thu Apr 19, 2007 10:01 am

The varible drob takes a very small hole, maybe 3/16" - 1/4 "

You still need the stock switch in it's location to turn on the wiper motor.

Most of the time I have found that someone has drilled a hole under the dash near the steering column area for something already.( speaker wire, horn button, who know's what) The exception would be a very clean orignal "unmolested car" Once the varible speed deal is installed it only needs to be messed with when you find your driving in very light or heavy rain and you want to change the speed accordingly. Otherwise it is a twist knob that is set at the normal single slow speed and it stays that way.

Thu Apr 19, 2007 3:38 pm

Gotcha. So the original switch is still needed to turn the wipers on/off, but
the power then runs through the drop where it does its work by dropping the
voltage and varying the speed. I'll still give it a look and see if I can't
find somewhere suitable to mount it. Like you said, I'm sure I probably already
have an extra hole under there somewhere.
Thanks!

Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:36 pm

My 66 beetle is converted to 12V, has been for almost 30 years, and has had a 6V wiper motor (and starter) the whole time. It worked fine for the first couple months I had it, albeit fast. I would turn it on and off in little blurps, but because it was going too fast, it broke the C clips off the pins that connect the wipers to the arms from the motor, and I havent been able to find the right size. So, a stepdown is certainly the cheapest way to go, and the motor burning out probly isnt the biggest problem to worry about.

Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:11 pm

I just use the EMPI voltage drop for $8-$10 . Works just fine.
You just need to have a little space to let the heat out. I put mine under where the OG speaker would be ( since I don't have one).
Also find a piece of aluminum to mount it to.
Aluminum dissipates(sp) heat -and they do get hot!
I have two-one for the wipers and one for the electric fuel guage.
Here's a pic of them mounted on some aluminum .

Just run a positive wire in one side and out the other to the thing you want to use.
If you check the voltage before you turn on the "appliance", it will read around 12V. As soon as you turn on the "appliance" it will drop.

Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:45 pm

Mounted mine to my ash tray, that way I would not have to string any extra wire, just had to make a splice. Not to mention, keeps things clean and out of the way. I'll try to get pics sometime.

Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:51 pm

That's a good idea.
Make sure there are no wires close by.
Voltage drops get so hot you can't hold them.