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chrismoore58
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2014
Posts: 14
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada
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 Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:41 pm Post subject: Weird wiper problem - don't work when on the windshield! |
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Attention wiper gurus...
I'm in the process of getting my '79 bus on the road, and the last piece is wipers. The bus sat for a number of years, and the wiper motor seized. I installed a new (used) wiper motor on the weekend, and everything seems fine - until I put the wipers on the windshield. They work fine when they're up - i.e. the radar thing - but when I lower one of them, they both stop turning. It's not a matter of the motor not being able to move the wipers properly because of friction. They stop turning before the blade touches the windshield. Grounding problem? What is different when you move the wiper blades from vertical to horizontal?
If someone has a specific suggestion or two, I'd love to hear it or them.
Thanks
Chris |
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strictly
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2014
Posts: 26
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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hmmm bizarre.
Ive had it when the motor was knackered, but as you said its not the motor, and more to do with the angle. Try it with some water on the windscreen? Try it with one wiper connected at a time? (one on, one off) |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51155
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Joey
Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2005
Posts: 5366
Location: Nova Scotia - Canada
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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You have an electrical problem... not enough power to the motor. Since you didn't mention the fuse blowing each time you put the wipers on the windshield it's not because of the shafts being seized up.
There is no difference if the wiper blades are vertical or horizontal.
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Joey
‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle |
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chrismoore58
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2014
Posts: 14
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| The fuse doesn't blow, and as long as the wipers are vertical, they rotate fine. Although there may theoretically be no difference between wipers being vertical or horizontal, the behaviour of mine is different! As soon as I move one of the wipers from vertical towards horizontal, they quit - before the blade touches the windshield. |
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captincanuck
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2014
Posts: 730
Location: The Great White North
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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I had that problem. Did you remove the shafts and grease them up good? When they are dried out they will move with the blades up but when you start to lower them you are putting a lot of force in one direction on the shaft, and if they are dry they will stop/seize (at least thats what happened to me) Hope this helps.
_________________
1979 Westfalia "FireFly" Subaru 2.2 with Subaru gears 5spd.
Build Thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634777&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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captincanuck
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2014
Posts: 730
Location: The Great White North
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50353
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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We really need to know for sure if the motor is running or if it is cutting off. I suspect the problem is mechanical though and can be seen in this photo. Look at the cracks in the plastic hub. Once the hub cracks the hub will just spin on the shaft and the wipers will not move.
Maybe you can take the plastic gear from your old motor and use it in the new one. |
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chrismoore58
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2014
Posts: 14
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| captincanuck wrote: |
| I had that problem. Did you remove the shafts and grease them up good? When they are dried out they will move with the blades up but when you start to lower them you are putting a lot of force in one direction on the shaft, and if they are dry they will stop/seize (at least thats what happened to me) Hope this helps. |
Thanks. I'll give that a try this weekend and report back.
...and hey, it's not that cold yet - though it's expected to be by the time I'm standing on my head under the dash on Saturday!
Chris |
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captincanuck
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2014
Posts: 730
Location: The Great White North
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
We really need to know for sure if the motor is running or if it is cutting off. I suspect the problem is mechanical though and can be seen in this photo. Look at the cracks in the plastic hub. Once the hub cracks the hub will just spin on the shaft and the wipers will not move.
Maybe you can take the plastic gear from your old motor and use it in the new one. |
I see what you are saying but if that gear was cracked up then the blades shouldn't be functioning when they are in the up position. Should they?
Here is a great post on how to give the shafts a little TLC
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=405607
_________________
1979 Westfalia "FireFly" Subaru 2.2 with Subaru gears 5spd.
Build Thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=634777&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50353
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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There is very little force on the blades when they are in the up position. As others said the load from dry shaft bushings goes up even just from the wiper arm spring tension as you move the blades towards the windshield.
For what it is worth, I have had pretty good luck lubing the bushings with motor oil by just putting a few drops on the shaft as the motor runs, blades and arms removed of course. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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100% guarantee that it is crack in the gear if both wipers are stalling. The shaft spins in the gear. When it starts they go slow or stop when on the windshield but you can hear the motor run. Eventually they won't work at all. The gear is not available and new old stock motors are far in between. My 1977 did it too. If you buy a used motor make sure it is a low mileage one.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6209825
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bigbore
Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2003
Posts: 3297
Location: Wasilla Alaska
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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ya I bet you got a junk used wiper motor. for some reason the later ones have that problem I run into it alot.
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where its cold and snowy |
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chrismoore58
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2014
Posts: 14
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:47 am Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| For what it is worth, I have had pretty good luck lubing the bushings with motor oil by just putting a few drops on the shaft as the motor runs, blades and arms removed of course. |
Thanks. That's the first thing I'll try on the weekend. In case it doesn't work, does anyone know if this
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1344036
is still available? I followed the link, and it says "The ad for Bay Window Bus Wiper Plastic gear/shaft Repair Price: $40.00 has been deleted.
This typically means the item is sold."
Chris |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50353
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Contact the seller. This sounds like something he may turn out from time to time. |
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captincanuck
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2014
Posts: 730
Location: The Great White North
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boogerweld
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008
Posts: 69
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| My wipers were doing exact same thing. Gear was cracked. Drilled a small hole into gear collar and shaft and pinned it. Worked like a charm. |
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chrismoore58
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2014
Posts: 14
Location: Hamilton Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:32 am Post subject: |
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Well, I took it all apart again yesterday, and guess what? Cracked plastic collar. I have contacted BUGBUS66 and am getting the "brass fix".
Thanks everyone. I never would have figured this out without you!
Chris |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51155
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:54 am Post subject: |
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While you await the arrival of the new gear dismantle the rest of the wiper system and get that 40 year old petrified grease out of the pivots, no need to stress the new parts.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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tristessa
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 3992
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| dismantle the rest of the wiper system and get that 40 year old petrified grease out of the pivots |
^^^ THIS ^^^
Clean and re-grease everything, including the gearbox on the wiper motor. I did that a few years ago and now even when they're on low, people are amazed how fast the wipers on my Bus are .. even had someone accuse me of swapping in a Mk3 Jetta wiper motor.  But nope, it's all stock Bus bits... |
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