Attaching Windshield Wiper Arms

[CPO_05]

May be a stupid question, but where does this little piece of metal go when putting the arm on the shaft? I tried it against the screw, but it doesn't tighted down enough against the shaft. I put the shaft between it and the screw, but the shaft will spin against the screw.

[floyd1969]

That looks like a broken part of the spring mech that sits behind the hinged part with the bolt in . I don't think it goes where you are trying to put it .mine have a little curved steel insert that are fixed tight inside the wiper housing , ie insert , shaft , bolt.

[DadaCheese]

It could also be a piece of metal that you (or someone before you) had placed in there so that the tightening bolt has some more grip.
Sounds like you tried that, but if everything is working correctly, you should not need to have it in there...

On my bus, the spindle shaft that you tighten the arm onto is SO old and worn, that it was necessary (with the wiper arms I had been using) to put something in there so that the tightening bolt (on the arm) could actually hold onto the shaft.

Naturally this is not ideal, but may work in a pinch. I did, however, loose a wiper-arm while driving once due to this kind of MacGyver work-around.

If the arm does not hold onto the spindle without something else in there to create more grip, then it is my guess that it is/was its purpose.
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Dada as in dadaism.
Cheese as in the stuff I love to eat.

[CPO_05]

It came with teh wiper arm when I bought it. I put in the end where the channel is and cranked down on teh nut, seems pretty tight, hopefully it will stay there.

[DadaCheese]

Just an additional tid-bit; although these "little" parts (smaller than an engine, at any rate) can be expensive and add up, I am very happy with my Wolfsburg West repro. arms, and recommend them.

Initially, I had spent less on repro. arms from another company, and the metal was about the strength of malt balls. When tightening those onto the spindle, one of 'em broke.

With my Wolfsburg West ones, I've been very happy.
...happen to be working on other parts of my windshield wiper system this coming weekend.
_________________
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Dada as in dadaism.
Cheese as in the stuff I love to eat.

[CPO_05]

Yeh, I got this one from Vee parts in San Diego. The first one broke just as you said, so they replaced it. The metal looks pretty week and I am thinking of getting new ones from WW.

I just replaced the shafts today and it was easier than I thought.