71 Wiper Woes

[Anthony Drago]

Hello,
Thanks to everyone on the board who sent me info on installing the washer tubes on my 71. I have them installed, soldered on, arms painted, clips on, everything looks good. Two problems though, when I put the wipers on the washers start pumping water without pushing the knob. Also, the blades are hitting a little when they come together in the middle of the windshield. Any feed back that would make my day go a little easier would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Anthony

[Jack H.]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

(1) Washer running without actuating it means washer solenoid/prawl 'thinks' it's being told to 'go'. Gotta track and kill the bug(s)....

(2) Wipers hitting each other is an adjust issue. Down inside the cowl (yep, you gotta pull the grille again) is a 'sandwich' assy where the actuating arms come together to ride the single drive off the wiper motor. There are two adjusting nuts allowing you to set RH/LH arm travel independent of each other. Gotta go back and 'tweak'....

Target is (a) arms don't hit during actuation, sweep, park and, (b) neither arm strikes the outside windshield reveal molding. On 'b', keep in mind to cut yourself some safety margin because when in motion, wind will try to push the arms to/beyond their mechanical limits. This means any 'slack' in the linkage will be tested while you're underway that you may not see while making adjustment(s) with the car standing still.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes *TL*

Good advice Jack, but for minor (please note the word MINOR) clearance issues don't overlook the adjusting screw in the side of the wiper arm. That screw, if it is not corroded permanently in place, can move one arm enough that they can miss each other. Best is that it can be adjusted without taking the grille off to adjust the linkage.

Also remember that the wipers will operate (sweep) differently not only with the car in motion, but with wet or dry windshield and with full voltage to the system (engine running) or off the battery. Before buttoning everything up - take her out for a drive in the rain - yea sure we all do that, right!

Plan B - take a shower with your car. ;-)

Terry

[John C. Woods]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

Sage advice, all. Well, not sure about the shower, but... Never forget to make sure that the plug on the back of the wiper switch is not installed upside down. I know from first hand, and painful experience, that it is easy enough to do.

[Anthony Drago]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

Thanks Jack,
Hey I thought you were busy this weekend. I thought I'd give you a break from my questions.
This morning I adjusted the arms by adjusting the rod with the two adjusting bolts as you suggested. It worked fine. At least I didn't have to remove and install the wiper door again, that was a real hassle. The grill I can handle.

[Robert C.]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

Blow some water through the washer hoses and tube from inside the hood to make sure you didn't seal the ends with solder.Also primes the pump.

[Anthony Drago]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

I did worry about that when I was soldering. Everything checked out though, the squirt....and squirt....and squirt, till the bag runs out of water!

[Anthony Drago]

[Jack H.]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

Yeah, Tony, I was busy on Sat Morning--annual RMC Judging School. Hey, if there are any Chapter Judging Chairmen out there who want a 'canned' school, this time around we 'automated' the process so I've got (1) question sheet in MS-Word, (2) answer sheet in MS-Word, and all the see/touch/feel parts the questions/answers pertain to captured in digital pix. It's a no brainer to put on a nice repeat of this judging school!

On the wipers; I saw Terry's FYI about the adjust screws on the side of the arms and felt a little 'stupid' for fogetting to mention. But, the side adjust gives only minor arm-blade cant adjust and if you've got MAJOR clash, you've gotta go underneath and re-adjust. Glad to hear it worked for ya!!!

On the 'infinite' washer operation.... Here's a second hypothesis. Actuating the washer kicks in a solenoid to lift the washer pump prawl from its 'parked' position on the wiper shaft mounted carousel. The prawl takes a ride around the carousel for 360 degrees and follows an inclined ramp on the side of the carousel back up to the top and re-enters its natrual 'parked' position.

OK, suppose someone has been 'dinking' inside the washer assy. If they've got the prawl assembled wrong, have the two solenoid actuator/return springs connected wrong, or the plastic carousel is damaged (torn return ramp, torn upper park plateau), you'd see exactly what you're seeing--infinite douche because the mechanical portion of the washer is NEVER going into its natural 'park' position.

How to check it out. Go to the auto parts store and get a passenger car pump (ANCO or Trico). Take it out of the box, pop the plastic cover and LOOK hard and long at how things are connected and what a known good carousel looks like.

Now go back and look at your washer. On Shark it's EASY to pull the washer sub-assy. Plus, individual internal parts (solenoid springs, prawl, carousel) are totally interchangeable between passenger car and Corvette! The only thing that's unique to Corvette is the plastic cover and right angle solenoid connectors.

[Anthony Drago]

Re: 71 Wiper Woes

Yea Jack I had that pump apart to replace the cylinder. It was in the back of my mind that I may have something installed incorrectly. Pulled the cover and have been staring at it and comparing it to a spare pump that I have. The prawl sits on the carousel, this is the natural park position I would assume? This weel I'll get to watching it when I run the system. So when the pump is activated the prawl goes uo, off of the carousel and when it is off it goes down onto the carousel? I'll get it, eventually. I'll also check the wiring. From what I can make out from the wiring diagrams, the yellow wire is on the top/driverside of the two connections and the blue wire is on the other side, right?
Thanks