Wiper mechanism plates wonky?

[BMFBMF]

Hi Folks,

This is the first time the wiper mechanism has ever come off the car, I was wondering if the wonky plate is normal? Or has it got bent from hard use?

[viiking]

It should be straight!

Probably something got caught in the mechanism whilst it was moving. Not unusual for someone to be poking around with a screwdriver when the wipers got accidentally turned on.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[BMFBMF]

Thanks for the feeback.

Another question the wipers worked when I took them off (but a bit slow). Now that it's apart, I tried to gently turn the motor though the gearbox by turning the little lever that comes off the output shaft but it seems pretty solid. I guess that there is reverse gearing that will make it harder to move but I'd think that it should move freely?

I'll open the gearbox this evening to see how thick the grease has got...

[baldessariclan]

[viiking]

Don't try and force the motor.

You will be amazed at how much better the whole thing is when it is properly lubricated.

Pull the motor apart and check the grease. Treat the inside gently however. Remove all the arms and clean and inspect the linkages and replace if necessary. Of course straighten out any of the arms, give everything a clean and some nice paint and it will be as good as new (usually).

Since yours was already running, just replacing the grease usually gives it a new lease on life.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[BMFBMF]

Thanks for the input folks.

I measured the current draw of the motor (disconnected from the mechanism and the gear removed). After removing the armature and greasing the plain ends and cleaning the brush area, the draw dropped by 1 amp . Quite surprised.

Was also quite surprised by the state of the grease in the gearbox, was still almost perfect.

Now to clean and paint the arms and reinstall.

[volksworld]

fwiw the spot the wipers park is determined by contacts on the gear..so you need to run the motor( hooked to the switch) and shut it off so that it parks...only then can you reattach the arm onto the splined shaft so that the wipers park in the correct spot on the windshield...the lube in the motor usually isnt the problem...its the shafts the wipers bolt onto that get water inside them and seize up