The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Trico wiper motor

I have a 1950 Chevy 3100. Almost done getting my truck running for the first time.


I wanted yalls opinion on the factory wiper motor.

Is it worth rebuilding?

Does it work pretty good?

The vacuum wiper works quite well, if it is in good shape.

You can try lubricating it, in the right place/hole.
(here is a link to a photo by Bob Adler).

Or, have Ficken Wiper Service (formerly wiperman.com)

Since I don't drive the truck THAT much in the rain, I use a vacuum wiper and like it.

If lubricating does not work it isn't difficult to open, clean the old grease off of everything (probably will be hardened grease), lubricate with new grease and reassemble. Generally will fix and work just fine afterwards. If not then to a rebuilder. Good luck!

I followed another poster's pictures and got it apart, cleaned it up and put it back together. A quick test and it works pretty good. I'll get it installed soon.

The knob control just simply moves that little arm up and down and that's it?

Not exactly. It must do so with enough torque to move the wiper blades across the wet windshield. Someone needs to create a mini-dyno for testing wiper motors.

What exactly do you lube it with?

I think I read somewhere, transmission fluid.

Carl52, I think Matt_Texas was referring to the on/off control knob. And yes the knob does move that lever on the top of the wiper motor. It is connected to the control knob by a small rod and two rubber grommets which hold the rod in place.

I recently sent mine out to Ficken Wiper Repair and now, mine is so strong it wipes without water on the windshield. $135 and it was returned in a week.

If you carefully squeeze a piece of tubing, can't remember if 3/16 or 1/4 and epoxy the opposite end into dowel stock or piece of broom handle you will have a tool to remove the funny screws. Used stainless on my last one and it has held up a good while without rounding out on tight screws.

hmmm I wouldn't of thought trans fluid.

I mentioned before that I was able to get it apart and test it. Pretty happy with it but it's been 2 years since I took it out. Looks straight forward but does anyone have any installed pictures?

There is a part... Looks kinda like two tear shaped washers with a spring holding them together. Is this the only thing keeping the linkage on the motor?

yes