54 wiper motor

[Brad H.]

Hi... can the wiper motor be lubed in place? if so what is the procedure, what to use and where does the lube go when done or a cleanup of the inside of unit. Thanks.

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Brad, I don't know how you could lubricate the internal mechanism without removing the motor (trivial to do) and taking it apart. For one thing, the large paddle which swings back and forth in the chamber just isn't accessible with the motor assembled. I believe, also, that the reciprocating valve would be hard to reach with the motor on the car .... but it's been a while since I worked on mine, so don't take that last statement as gospel.

In any event, in my experience, the big problem with these old vacuum motors is that the paddle seals shrink and will no longer hold vacuum. Once they stop holding vacuum, of course, the motor will not run.

Jim

[Brad H.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Jim...Mine works fine but is a little slow, need to check it at higher rpm. Tell me if my switch functions properly. Switch turns freely to half way point and then from there is spring loaded, you could say, to full on. When you let go it turns back by itself to the half way position. Is this normal. If not what is loading it from half to full position and what is the fix. Anyone else feel free to chime in. Thank you. Brad.

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Brad, the way I'm reading your description, I get the feeling you are trying to force the knob to rotate further than it's intended to go.

Just to check, I photographed the wiper knob in my unrestored #3300 at both the "off" and "on" positions yesterday. Squint and look closely at the following pictures and you can make out the red mark I added to the trim ring so it's possible to see how much rotation is normal. How does this compare to yours?







Jim

[Brad H.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Hi Jim...That is the same pattern as mine. Is the switch at a fixed point(no rotation) on yours at all on or can you rotate further. Mine will rotate further(with no force) about that much again with a spring loaded feel but when you let go it returns back to the I guess all on position. Thank you, Brad.

[Jim L.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Hi Brad,

I didn't try rotating the wiper knob beyond the obvious stop. To have done so would have risked damaging something I don't want to have to fix on my unrestored '54.

Jim

[Brad H.]

Re: 54 wiper motor

Jim... mine stop's at that same point but with light pressure can be rotated that much more and feels like it is opening something more in the wiper motor, when I let go of switch at that point it rotates back to full on spot. I don't know the function of the unit any way so maybe this is normal travel. Anyone else check theirs or explain what this extra movement might be? Thank you. Brad.