Windshield Wiper Spindle Cover PSA

[ac78]

Hi All-

I went through a carwash a while back and it had a top brush at the exit end of the tunnel that took my DS wiper for a ride up the windshield. It did not break off and I was surprisingly able to return it to position. It did operate properly until today. I attached some pics as I removed the assembly. There is a shear bolt/hex cup that has enough resistance to allow wiper arm to travel but will strip out to protect the arm and prevent body damage. I have never had one apart so I thought this is a cool design and posted some pics. They are only $1.30-$2.00 a piece so you might want to order a couple to throw in your bag on you next parts run.

I searched here, looked in my Bentley and Chilton's without finding anything on this cap.

Bus Depot calls it a Windshield Wiper Spindle Cover. Other vendors have some as well.

http://www.busdepot.com/211955275a

_________________
78 Westy 2.0l hydr. FI

VW Campmobile
For people who believe a family's
car should be it's castle !

[SGKent]

use a small exacto blade to clean the serrations in the spindle before you push the wipe back on.

Now the bad news, the wiper motor has a plastic gear in it that easily cracks. If it does after that event the wiper will be slow then stop. The fix is in classifieds. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1720906

[busdaddy]

[danfromsyr]

each time the wiper arm moves independent of the center shaft.
you'll want to use a pick and clean out those little grooves, those are what actually do the job you were thinking the plastic nut did..
if it happens alot you'll have removed too much material and would require new wiper arms.
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[Tcash]

73-79 wiper assembly removal and lube
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7421198#7421198

Wiper Refresh FAQ
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=445921&highlight=

Bug but you get the idea
Wiper Motor Tutorial on removing, diss-assembling, cleaning
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6270827&highlight=#6270827

thnx mayor ratwell

Good luck
Tcash

[Al Capulco]

That cap is NOT "purely decorative" it acts as a seal to prevent water from getting in the bushing and seizing the shaft. They wear out over time and should be changed. Hard to find good ones these days that do the job.

[ac78]

Thank you for all the responses and especially the links. I was not search for terms that would have lead me there. Have check my Bentley again to find that exploded view.

I do find it curious that the cap has a hex end and no value. I did make assumption based on the wiper giving vs getting ripped off the bus. Maybe I'm dead wrong on that and spent too much time changing out snowblower bolts...

I did tighten it back down and seems to be functioning but from what you guys are describing I may have stripped out that gear on the motor a bit.

Edited- btw, is one arm spring supposed to have much more tension on it? My PS was much harder to deal with because of the spring.

Thx!
_________________
78 Westy 2.0l hydr. FI

VW Campmobile
For people who believe a family's
car should be it's castle !

[Tcash]

What happens sometimes is this nut loosens up.

But do to the wiper arm and this shaft being different metals, tapered and splined. The wiper arm gets stuck on there even though the nut it loose. Maybe when the brush hit it, it knocked it loose.

If the nut is tight and the wiper arm still moves, the splines in the arm or on the shaft are stripped out.

Tcash

[ac78]

Thx tcash! I'll monitor and take it back apart this weekend for more thorough cleaning.
_________________
78 Westy 2.0l hydr. FI

VW Campmobile
For people who believe a family's
car should be it's castle !

[busdaddy]