The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Wiper Arm Issue--Passenger Side Sticks

I have a 1966 Chevy Stepside.

It has new Wiper Arms, new Wipers and a new Wiper Transmission.

When i drive above ~35mph and my wipers are on, my passenger side wiper arm swings out to far and gets stuck on the edge of the window. (stopping the wipers)

Once I stop and push the wiper arm back over the edge of the window, the wipers work fine--until I speed back up.

Any thoughts on how to fix this?

Thanks,

Tom
Houston, TX

It sounds like you need to adjust the wiper arm/s. They should be near the bottom of the windshield when in the off position.

All you have to do is remove the arm/s, and reinstall in desired position.

when my truck is parked or when i'm driving at a low speed, i have no problems with my wipers.

it's when i'm driving above 35mph that they hang up.

i dont think the "clocking" of the wipers is the problem.

basically, my wipers need more hold-down force...
will a stronger spring provide this???

I think that is a common problem, but don't know if anybody has any solutions. I once thought about using some lead tape like they use to add an ounce or two to a golf club.

I've never had any trouble on my '65. I don't think either side should be that close to the edge of the windshield, to be able to "get stuck". I can see it happening if there's "slop" in the transmission linkages, or if they are "clocked" too far out. The springs inside the arms hold the blades against the glass, and stronger ones might make the problem worse.
I wonder if the motor is strong enough...mine's a reman single speed. Assuming you have 2-speed wipers, does the problem occur at different wiper speeds?

well, i dont run the wipers on high, so i wouldnt know.

when the truck is idling or driving at low speeds, the passenger wiper swings out to a "normal" position (about 12 o'clock or so) and then returns to the bottom of the window.

when i'm driving above 35 mph or so, it seems the passenger wiper arm swings out further--eventually swinging out so wide that it crosses the edge of the window and gets stuck.

Of course the problem is worse the faster you go from the extra air flow. That extra air flow is not the problem, though. It's just pointing it out. You have got too much slop in your linkages. Sit and idle and put your wipers on high. The extra force of the higher speed may show the problem too. Your linkage is allowing that wiper to move too far, it doesn't make any difference how strong that spring is, the wiper should not be moving off the glass in the first place.

Anyone know how i can keep my wipers ON the glass at speeds higher than 35 mph?

i'm wondering if New Port Engineering's Wiper Motor might help...?

there's not much slop in my linkage (tried both original equipment and aftermarket linkage by LMC).

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tom in Dallas (er, Carrollton), TX

I used OEM arms to solve this problem-Chinese repops just don't work(like most everything from there).

The factory wiper arms, have a spring in the housing of the arm, near the mounting point. This spring is designed to provide pressure of the arm, against the windshield. Have your checked the back of your wiper arms, to be sure the springs are intact? I have had the springs missing or in a state of disrepair before, that allowed the wiper arms to lift from the windshield, at highway speeds.

mechttu,
try a couple of tests.
with the wipers off and in the parked position see if there is any play in the wipers (can you make them sweep back and forth).
next try this in the full up position (when they are closest to the side edges of the windshield). great thing about these old trucks is that you can get the wipers started and then just turn the ignition off where you want them to stop.
and you may try this in some intermediate positions as well.
You may have something stripped out, or you may have something loose.
I think your problem is either in the linkage or splines of item # 11 of the attached link.
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cbe/full.aspx?Page=97
or the splines in your wiper arms themselves may be worn out
I really don't think the spring in the wiper arm has anything to do with this.

The spring in the wiper arm, provide resistance against the windshield and with a spring missing, damaged or not attached at both ends, the wiper will lift from the face of the windshield, at driving speeds, as well as, become sloppy, through the blade sweep.

Yes there is the possibility that it could be that. However i thought that had been ruled out.
I do know that when my truck gets over 65 mph my old wipers used to lift off the glass as well. But for me they never went past the windshield post.
Because of this I changed my wipers over to a later model version because I did not like the tension.
I did list how I did this in the below post.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=82430&Number=610167#Post610167