The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Wiper System Replacement

When I bought the truck, the PO had purchased, but not installed, a replacement wiper motor from LMC, and gave it to me with the truck. I was able to get it installed, using the existing transmission arms and everything else, but it's not working correctly. It all works great while I am sitting still, testing it on a dry windshield, but as soon as it's actually raining, or I am moving, the arms stop swinging all the way back, and eventually the blades end up sitting at 90 degrees, wiping about an inch back and forth. I'm thinking I can replace the transmission links for about $120, but I could also go with one of the full kits from RainGear or somebody like that. Any suggestions? Does anybody think the transmission arms are the problem? I'm not sure about the motor itself. It looks OK, but the armature seems to swing too much. Even when it works in testing, the blades go a little too far around the bend on the windshield.

is it vacuum or electric? I am assuming electric. But you never know

It was vacuum originally, but it was replaced with electric.

You might want to post this in the Electrical Forum. I bought an electric wiper motor a few months too soon. It came from LMC. Later we had a discussion here on wiper motors and most here were pretty well convinced that the New Port motor was the best. I haven't installed mine yet. Hope I don't regret buying it from LMC.

What about RainGear? Has anybody tried them? I like the fact that the entire system is new from the motor all the way to the pivot shafts. It just sounds more likely to succeed.

They don't make anything for 54 and older.

I just looked at their website. They show a kit for 1947 to 1954 Chevrolet and GMC trucks.

I recommend Specialty Power Windows Inc for their electric wiper kit. They make a kit especially designed for the AD trucks and it is very reliable. It uses an enclosed cable drive system and modern electric motor set up. I have this on a '48 Chevy 1 ton that I use everyday. It's been on the truck for about 4 or 5 yrs now, trouble free. Prior to that I used the New Port electric wiper set up. It never lasted more that 3 yrs, with motor burn out ,switches malfunctioning etc. So after replacing 3 New Port Kits I decided to bite the bullet and spend the big bucks for the Specialty Power Window wiper kit. It's the way to go if you use the truck like I do in rain, sleet, snow, and everything else that New England weather throws at us.

I installed the LMC kit and I works fine. From what I can tell the only difference seems to be the brackets and how they fit.

Sounds like the arms on the wiper motor transmission are slipping or ? Have you looked under there to see what is not lining up right? I don't think its the stock parts goofing up, its more likely the after market part.

another option to explore:

http://www.newportwipers.com

http://www.specialtypowerwindows.com/products.php?c=2&t=13
Please tell me more about this, do you have any pictures?

I'm thinking it is what I should use for my truck.

Then about the Newport wipers,
At a truck show a few weeks ago they (the owners) had a display and were promoting their kits. Talked to them a few times during the day and they seemed like really nice folks and a decent product.
So I decided I was ready to buy a kit for my truck and asked how much... quoted list price and said I'd have to get it from one of several other vendors.
I was expecting a small discount for purchasing them in person from the manufacturer... Had they actually been selling them, even at normal price, I would have bought one on the spot. Kind of glad I didn't now.

Grigg

Newport has been around since(1987) pre-internet for the masses... so, I'm sure they have selling agreements with their dealers about not undercutting the dealers from the factory.

That is a pretty standard deal for companies that have been around a while... and why there are a lot of long standing companies that you still cannot buy direct from.

-W

I was thinking that being set up in a swap meet they should sell parts; it was not a trade show.
I understand the reasoning now, still seems a little weird given the situation.

Grigg