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Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:16 am

snj wrote: The Rabbit reservoir (at least the one on a '79) has a rather strange shape. How did you mount it?
).

Very good question. I didn't state everything - I think it's a REAR Rabbit reservoir. As this is in my baja and I don't have a spare in the normal location, I took the cover plate for the steering box adjustment, drilled out the welds for the Rabbit reservoir's slide-in body mount, then put some holes in the that steering box cover plate and bolted that mount up there. So it sits at a slight angle, but it still works good. And access is pretty easy.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:59 am

dantrefethen wrote: drscope wrote: If you really want it to work, you could always install a modern bottle with the built in electric pump.

but that wouldn't be original.

Mine has one of these and works real well.

http://www.mamotorworks.com/acvw?frame=2.4525

Dan

You could probably buy that same set up for about $12 if it wasn't for a corvette!

Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:18 am

Ok, so now i know what it looks like.. where do i get one? and how does it hook up to the little push knob inside the wiper switch?
thanks everyone for the info.

as far as shifter, i guess i go berg. save up !!!

Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:00 pm

Those accessory hoses haven't been sold in decades, so your best bet is to look at swap meets, eBay and the Classified ads here on TheSamba.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:29 pm

glutamodo wrote: I think it's a REAR Rabbit reservoir. As this is in my baja and I don't have a spare in the normal location, I took the cover plate for the steering box adjustment, drilled out the welds for the Rabbit reservoir's slide-in body mount, then put some holes in the that steering box cover plate and bolted that mount up there. So it sits at a slight angle, but it still works good. And access is pretty easy.

Looks like the same one to me.

(Not connected because it doesn't hold fluid.)

For those curious about the slide-in body mount, here's a more illuminating picture (I didn't think to take a picture of the metal mount on the body, though):

Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:35 pm

EDIT - Arrgh, sorry I'm getting confused as to who is asking what here.

I know for sure I cut the mount out of the back of a Rabbit, but I'm not totally certain the reservoir came from there.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:36 pm

okar wrote: Ok, so now i know what it looks like.. where do i get one? and how does it hook up to the little push knob inside the wiper switch?

Be aware that you don't necessarily need the accessory hose. It might earn you some style points, but you can get along just fine without one.

But whether or not you have the stock setup or the accessory hose, the reservoir is pressurized and hose runs from the reservoir to the wiper switch. From the wiper switch, another hose runs to your washer jet. With the plunger in its outward resting position, the path between the two hoses is blocked. When you push the plunger in, the path is opened. High pressure in reservoir + low pressure outside = fluid shoots at your window.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:43 pm

Like I said before, I ran mine without the accessory hose for several years and it was fine. I just happened to stumble across one of the accessory hoses, cheap, so I scored it.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:54 pm

Quote: When you push the plunger in, the path is opened. High pressure in reservoir + low pressure outside = fluid shoots at your window.

Or as happened to me the last time I pressurised the damn thing, high pressure in reservoir + low pressure inside car = button flies out of the centre of the switch and entire contents of reservoir shoots out of the dash into your lap and all over your already rusty floorpans 'cos you had the floormats out to clean them up. Note: not possible to stem the flow by trying to jam finger into switch.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:10 pm

Dangermouse wrote: Or as happened to me the last time I pressurised the damn thing, high pressure in reservoir + low pressure inside car = button flies out of the centre of the switch and entire contents of reservoir shoots out of the dash into your lap and all over your already rusty floorpans 'cos you had the floormats out to clean them up. Note: not possible to stem the flow by trying to jam finger into switch.

Hah, thanks for that story. It makes me feel better about the time I pressurized the system (below the max pressure rating, mind you) only to have washer fluid sprayed all over my wiring.

Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:07 am

yeah, same thing happened to me too, as I said earlier in this thread.... :D
Quote: (I remember the old switch, when it failed on me as I pressurized the tank, and it blowing its button out the dashboard and water jetting out of the hole)
At least with me I caught it right away and depressurized the tank before I got a flood of blue water all over the inside of the car.

That was when I tried to buy a new switch, and the only one I could find at that time was the 1967-style. That's when I figured out how to use that new switch with an older wiper motor and eventually hooked it up with two resistors to make it two speeds, as I laid out in the diagram I drew up and posted in the Gallery:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=350768

Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:16 am

thanks SNJ! I really wasnt asking for a modified reservoir or one off some other car, i have one i just want it to work, kind of frustrating how a question can veer off into another direction.
So, if i want a resoirvoir off a rabbit, i know what to do now,
But, what i really wanted was the inormation SNJ and the person with the accessory foto delivered.. THanks!

Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:55 pm

Yikes - I don't like Dangermouse's or SNJ's stories of spraying the interior and the wiring.

I also have a similar problem on my '65 where the contents of the tank sprays without pressing the button (fortunately the outside of the windshield).

Has anyone ever tried to take the switch/button apart to see what's holding the path open?

Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:16 pm

Im going to re-vitalize this post with another question, can I replace that rubber hose that goes from the cap to the switch? Any help is appriciated

Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:30 pm

Yes, same hose.

And for those that want to convert to electric pumps, but want to use the stock button, there is a way. I went searching for this as I remember seeing it before, and I'm the one that posted it in another thread back in '06. :)

http://www.clubvw.org.au/how_to_modify_those_windscreen_w.htm