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Wiper motor repair

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Lin

Lin

Jedi Knight
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Okay, tonight I have no physics questions (radiator caps), or esoteric fastener questions! This one is just good old mechanical know how.

I would like to take the nylon gear out of the wiper motor to clean it and the casing thoroughly - years of hardened goop that was at one time grease. It appears that it is on a shaft which protrudes through the bottom of the casing and is secured by a washer and a C clip or ring. See attachment.

Any suggestions on how to get the clip (ring) off without breaking it or something else? I would appreciate some suggestions and or advice from someone who has done this. Thanks so much

Lin Rose
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 

Attachments

  • 155107-wipermotorpix.jpg
    155107-wipermotorpix.jpg
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HI Lin, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif-I think you can just take a very narrow bladed screwdriver, insert it about the middle of the ring and "gently" prise it off.-Fwiw---Keoke
 
Hi Lin,

I just did this job a few weeks ago. I used two small screw drivers, one for each side of the C to remove it. It did not take much effort at all. I took the assembly completely apart, cleaned everything, used 5 minute epoxy on the motor windings (thanks for the tip Keoke!), bought new brushes at the hardware store (had to cut them down to size), zinc plated the metal, hammercoated the housing and used waterproof grease on the re-assembly (because it was the thickest, drip resistant grease I had). I bench tested it and reinstalled it on the car. Just take your time taking it apart and take pictures, make notes to help with the re-assembly. Here are before and after photos. Let me know if you have any questions as you go through it.

Cheers,
John
wiper2.jpg
wiper1.jpg
 
John, Thanks! I used the two screwdriver method and it worked like a charm. Now, tell me about the 5 minute epoxy on the windings. Why am I doing that if the winding appear to be in good shape, and what type of epoxy do I use (other than 5 minute)?

Oh, and by the way - how do I get my photos to show up in the body of the post as yours did, rather than as an attachment?

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
Hi Lin,

My windings had a thin coat of shellac looking material covering the windings and it had fallen off in a few places. I used 5 minute epoxy, not the kind in little tubes but some I have which comes in larger containers and brushed it over the windings to encapsulate it again. Keoke recommended thinning it a bit with acetone but mine was thin enough to flow out without dripping. If your wires are covered then don't bother with the epoxy.

I upload my photos to my website and paste the URL into the "Image" command to have them show up in the body of the post. If you have a website or webspace (often part of your email service) you can proably do the same. It requires downloading some FTP software. I use WS_FTP LE which is free for non-commercial use. https://freeware.intrastar.net/ftp.htm

Cheers,
John
 
I did my '55 BN1 recently and , when I took the gear from the housing, it was kinda stuck and I gave it a little more effort. It came apart all right and the gear flew outta my greasy hand and landed on the floor about 3 ft away. I then noticed that the gear was set into 2 rows of needle bearings and I had lost about 6. I found them after crawling around the fllor for about 2 hrs looking under everything. Then on reasembly I put some grease on the gear shaft near the gear and then placed one row of bearings around the circumference . Then slide the shaft into the housing and then added the next row of bearings from the clip side of the housing. Now after reading the part about adding epoxy I might have to take the motor apart!!!
What exactly is the purpose of adding the extra expoxy? Is there a problem with the windings coming apart from the armature and rubbing on the housing?
 
[ QUOTE ]
What exactly is the purpose of adding the extra expoxy? Is there a problem with the windings coming apart from the armature and rubbing on the housing?

[/ QUOTE ]

The windings should be insulated. If the existing covering is old or has overheated and is coming off there is the possibility that the windings will suffer a short circuit internally- so rather than having the benefit of all the windings you may end up with only having some of them working. In effect, you get less motor than intended because the electricity isn't reaching all of the windings. A little extra epoxy insulation can help prevent that. If your windings looked good and there were no bare spots or places where the insulation looked tired I'd think that you're probably OK....
 
Hello all,
I have my wiper motor cleaned up and tested. It seems to be functioning properly. I am now ready to reassemble. Do you have recommendations for the type of grease I should use? John Loftus mentioned using "waterproof grease on the re-assembly (because it was the thickest, drip resistant grease I had)"

The gunk I cleaned out of the housing was very thick and you certainly don't want to have the grease getting thin and leaking out. On the other hand you don't want something so dense that it impedes the action of the motor.

Thoughts? and thanks as always.

Lin Rose
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
HI Lin, You have at least two options available. 1] use wheel bearing grease made for boat trailers, or 2] use a NGL 2 rated lubricant.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
Hi Lin,

Yes, I used waterproof grease designed for boat trailer wheel bearings. The grease is thick but creamy (not fiberous like some heavy grease I've seen). I see on the Healey list that others use white lithium grease such as Lubriplate. My main concern was having grease drip out of the wheelboxes on a hot day. I did use lots of it like the factory did thinking it wouldn't need to be opened for another 45 years /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers,
John
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif John, Merry XMASS.---Keoke
 
John and Keoke,
First, thanks for your help. I live in the Shenadoah Valley of Virginia (mountains, no boats). I suppose I could have found boat trailer bearing grease, but not easily! I did pick up some Lubrimatic white lithium grease NLGI #2 rating. I suppose I will give it a try.

Happy holidays to both of you and again, thanks for all the help in 2005. Expect to hear from me as the project progresses. John, how about some new photos of your progress?

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
Hey Keoke, Merry Christmas to you too!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

Lin,

The marine grease is also NLGI #2 rated so I think we both are o.k. for a long time.

I know I haven't updated photos in a long time .. I'll try to get around to it soon! All the best in 2006!

Cheers,
John
 
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