The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Vacuum window wipers

I noticed that Jim Carter no longer rebuilds Vacuum window wiper motors. The guy that did it was 92 years old.
Does anyone know where or who does rebuild these vacuum wiper motors?

Ficken Wiper Service
132 Calvert Avenue West Babylon, NY 11704
631-587-3332
[email protected]
https://rebuildingtricowipers.com/

Yep, what miraclepieco said. Wiperman did mine 3 (?) years ago and they still work like new.

Wiper man did mine also. No complaints.

How much did he charge?

In the link you posted, the ad says $135.00. With free USA return shipping. Click on >what we rebuild<, and the price is at the bottom.

SWEET!!! Thank you guy's for this excellent tip. So appreciate this!!

Elmo!

There is a possibility that a cheap simple fix could get a wiper vacuum motor working and is always worth the try.

Remove the vacuum wiper motor, pour or inject approx a couple/three table spoons of motor oil down the vacuum port into the wiper motor. Shake the motor around at all angles in order to get the oil to coat as much of the interior as you can.. Allow it to sit over night. reinstall it and try it.

I did this to my 49 wiper vacuum motor a little over 6 years ago and the vacuum wipers have worked ever since. They didn't work before I did this. To give a little background on my 49, it had sat non-running since 1969.....

It may or may not work for you but giving it a try only costs you a little elbow grease and a little motor oil.

Good luck

From an article by Bob Adler (and A-D professional restorer):

http://1954advance-design.com/Web%20images/wiper-motor-lubrication.jpg

Did Bob happen to mention what to use as a lube to put in those holes?

I put a little atf in my 37 wiper motor, left overnight, made sure in was on the intake stroke and sucked the fluid in. Let sit for a while then worked it back and forth. Then hooked up to vacuum cleaner and started slow but after a while it took right off. Works great

Bob might have mentioned a lubricant, but I cannot find the complete article. It was in This Old Truck or maybe in Pickups 'n Panels In Print.

This write-up suggests Marvel Magic Mystery OIl. Brake fluid is also mentioned - the grade is not specified (BUT - damage to paint might occur).

I once had a customer with an early jeep pickup with vacuum wipers. Added a vacuum can (size of a coffee can) from a ford sedan with hidden headlight doors. It was more than enough vacuum to keep the wipers running at a steady speed.

JEGs 555-63010 vacuum canister and fittings/valves

About $50, delivered.

Now I'd like to know, is the vacuum motor held in place by one or two brackets. Does anyone have a picture on how the motor comes out from underneath the dash.
It's so hard to see under the dash.

Thank you in advance, again
Elmo

Logic tells me disassembling the motor followed by a through cleaning inside and out, and then applying some oil type lubricant inside might have a high rate of success. Off to Ficken if that doesn’t fix it.

The issue with disassembling the motor is that you will likely tear the the very narrow and thin gasket. They crumble very easily and making a new one would be a monumental feat. Maintaining the gap between the two halves is crucial for the paddles to make the correct amount of contact. The original gasket provides this. Sealant may or may not maintain this spacing, and then there is the issue of sealant oozing inside, gumming up the works.
I sure would like to hear about a technique which a do-it-yourselfer could use to reliably perform that task, as I have a box full of wiper motors which need rebuilding.
Carl

I recall disassembling the wiper motor on my Model A and getting it back together and having it work. Of course, the motor was only 37 years old then. Seems like I've been disassembling things since I was a kid. My mom says I once took one of my dad's pocket watches apart, of course without it ever working again. I supposedly took the parts to my dad in my outstretched hands, pleading with him to put it back together.

The vacuum reservoir is a good idea for dependable operation. Mashing the throttle to the floor results in very little vacuum at the intake.

I have taken them apart and put them back together and they "worked", but lacked the power of a new/professionally repaired one. I am guessing it was due to incorrect space where the paper gasket belongs.

I removed the vacuum wiper motor and lubed it with atf fluid. Manually worked it and let sit over night. Then I went to the junk yard and found a vacuum reservoir- (cost 5 bucks) from a truck, I took the tubing with the check valve also. Hooked it all up under the dash. And the windshield wipers are finally working. Saved myself 130 bucks.