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Windshield Wipers Quit

Discussion in 'Jeepster Commando and Commando Tech' started by 69commando225, Dec 11, 2016.

  1. Dec 11, 2016
    69commando225

    69commando225 New Member

    Michigan
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    I use my 1969 Jeepster Commando for plowing, and we are in a middle of a blizzard right now here in Michigan.

    My wipers did work, but rather slowly, on the fast setting. Now they don't.

    When I get back from church,I'm going to go back out to the pole barn to troubleshoot.

    I am going to test the motor first, and than make sure the wires look good.

    Are there any fuses to check, or common problems/ fixes I should know about?
     
  2. Dec 11, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Sounds like it could be a bad wiring connection somewhere, or perhaps a dirty set of brushes/armature.

    Do some voltage measurements at the motor & see what you get when it's supposed to be running, if the voltage is low work your way back to the switch. If it isn't low pull the motor apart to see what it looks like inside.

    H.
     
  3. Dec 11, 2016
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    I had a problem with ground connecion easy to adapt.
     
  4. Dec 11, 2016
    Pack Rat

    Pack Rat Old Timer

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    I certainly wouldn't rule out a bad ground or bad connections but the wiper transmission is also a pretty good bet, especially if it sits for extended periods. Easy enough to remove the clip at the motor and see if the linkage is stiff. Not quite as easy to fix but I've revived them in.
     
  5. Dec 12, 2016
    69commando225

    69commando225 New Member

    Michigan
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    I had a chance to get out and mess with the wiring. Here is what I have found; The glass fuse was corroded, and not making good contact. I cut it out, and replaced it with a blade 30 AMP fuse. After I did this, the wipers work again, but still slow, like they are struggling. I checked the plug and switch, and see that the previous owner added a ground wire from the switch to the dash panel.

    I removed the wiper plug from the switch, and manually grounded the center pin from the plug to a good ground, and the motor still acts like it is struggling.

    So, the good news, is the wipers work, but I need to remove the clip, and make sure the linkage is not bound or frozen up.

    If the linkage is stiff, how have you been able to get it to move freely again? Spray it with WD40?

    Thanks!
     
  6. Dec 12, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Depending on your wire gauge a 30 amp fuse may not be a good idea, I'm sure a 10 amp would be perfectly fine.

    You'll probably have to take to motor apart & clean/re-grease it.

    H.
     
  7. Dec 12, 2016
    69commando225

    69commando225 New Member

    Michigan
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    Thanks, I will go with a 10 amp fuse. Being that my Jeepster was used for the last 15 years as a plow Jeep, there is a lot of rust. Do I need to remove the dash to get to the wiper motor? It does not look like there is a lot of room to remove otherwise.

    Thanks!
     
  8. Dec 12, 2016
    Pack Rat

    Pack Rat Old Timer

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    Don't know if I have any pictures but the wiper motor is mounted to a bracket that bolts to the steering column to dash support. Neither is easy to remove so you really want to be about 100% sure that it is the wiper motor.
    Due to the design of the wiper transmission it's darn near impossible to get any lubrication to the pivots. On my snowplow Jeepster I had the wiper transmission already out so it was a lot easier. You might be able to do it while installed if there's any indication the nuts aren't going to come off the wiper pivots. It requires drilling a small hole into the cast housing so it just breaks through to the inner shaft. I have a small pump style oil can with a pointed end I used to get oil in but WD-40, penetrating oil or similar can the be sprayed in. If it is the wiper transmission that's the problem I'll try get some pictures, might make it a little easier to understand.
     
  9. Jan 15, 2017
    69commando225

    69commando225 New Member

    Michigan
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    Update: The more I have been using the wipers, the better they are performing. I think that since they haven't been used in years, they just needed to be broken in again.
     
  10. Jan 15, 2017
    Pack Rat

    Pack Rat Old Timer

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    The whole dis-similar metal thing. Mine were a little slow first time I used them this year too.
     
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