Section : Electrical Equipment

Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.

Windscreen wipers

Posted By : Ben Duckett, 28-Mar-2003, 07:16am

Ok, time for another daft question. The windscreen wipers on my 1500 flap about in a vaguely apathetic and embarassing fashion. What is the best way in which to get access to the mechansism? Do I have to take the dashboard off?
Thanks, in advance!

Followups :

Windscreen wipers

Posted By : Graham Reeks, 28-Mar-2003, 07:18am

that was a quick response!

It's on the bulkhead Ben, you can't miss it!
- Windscreen wipers
  
  Posted By : Ben Duckett, 28-Mar-2003, 08:08am
  
  Can't miss it? You'd be amazed! Are you talking about the motor or the actual linkage? It looks like the gnurled spigot (fantastic phrase!) is loose and needs tightened up again. Is this something you have done?
  Thanks for the quick response, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who wakes up with Spitfires on his mind!
  Ben
  - Windscreen wipers
    
    Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 28-Mar-2003, 08:45am
    
    Spitfire drivers do it early in the morning......
    
    The wiper motor is above your pedals, but if the wipers are floppy it probably isn't that. From this 'box' the 'worm drive' (real name) runs through the bulkhead and under the dash and is a pain to get to. If you fit a couple of new wheel boxes as I'm not sure if you can tighten them up (?).
    
    I have to admint my GT6's wipers are a bit floppy, but I thought that was a triumph special charm! :-)
    
    NiG
    http://www.niginthecar.net
    - Windscreen wipers
      
      Posted By : Ben Duckett, 28-Mar-2003, 09:12am
      
      I thought it would be a bugger to do. I thought that obscure size fasteners in hard to reach places was the charm of Triumphs. Normally I am happy to live with a little bit of floppiness, but this is getting to be annoying! Oh well, had nothing better to do on saturday!
      Cheers,
      Ben
Windscreen wipers

Posted By : Gordon Davies, 28-Mar-2003, 09:55pm

Useful tip - and and not just for Spitfires - and one that took me many years to discover. To stop wipers from "juddering", especially on partially wet screen, put a very slight twist in the arm of the wiper using two pairs of adjustable spanners. Chances are that the first attempt will be the wrong direction and make matters even worse !!
- Windscreen wipers
  
  Posted By : Don Cook, 29-Mar-2003, 07:26pm
  
  Is that four adjustable spanners?
  - Windscreen wipers
    
    Posted By : Gordon Davies, 29-Mar-2003, 10:28pm
    
    Don
    To clarify my tip a little - lift the wiper arm away from the screen. Put one spanner about half way along the wiper arm (not the blade) so that it is good snug fit onto the arm. Place second spanner about about two inches higher up, at 180 degrees to the first. Then twist one against the other - carefully as it only needs a very slight twist to do the trick!.If arms are chrome or stainless steel, I would suggest that you put a piece of card between the jaws of the spanner to prevent scratching.