Vacuum wipers

[Guest oakland]

I have a 1929 Oakland with a vacuum wiper. I had the vacuum motor rebuilt in 2006, and have used the wipers only a few times since. The problem I have is that the wiper works slow and stops halfway on one of the strokes. Looking out from behind the steering wheel, the wiper blade moves from right to left (although slow) and on the return stroke (left to right) it stops a little over half way thru the stroke. If I go outside and assist the wiper, it makes the full stroke and reverses itself. I was wondering if the wiper motor needs lubrication of some kind. It has not been used much and maybe it is dry inside. I would appreciate any feedback. If it does need lubrication, what kind and how do I do it? Thanks

[ply33]

Wiper motors should be lubricated from time to time. The official procedure on the first half of this page:

http://www.ply33.com/Repair/wiper

should be all you need. If the wiper was rebuilt in the last couple of years the second procedure should not be needed.

Actually, I am surprised that you would have a problem after only 2 years. You should be able to a decade or two. I'd also check that you have no vacuum leaks and that you are getting decent manifold vacuum (engine in good tune, etc.) before going too much further.

[Guest oakland]

Thanks for the info. What should the correct vacuum be? I can check with my vacuum gauge to see if it is correct.

[ply33]

My 1940-53 Chilton's says that idle vacuum should be steady at between 17 and 21 for an engine in good condition.

I assume that your 1929 Oakland has an updraft carburetor which I am not familiar with. I do know that on the later down draft carburetors there is often a vacuum port for spark advance that comes off near the throttle plate. You do not want to use that port to supply vacuum to your wipers. You want to directly connect to the manifold.

Also, most cars prior to around 1930 used vacuum operated fuel pumps. So I assume your fuel tank is vacuum operated. Plymouth used suction from the oil pump to run the fuel pump but most cars used manifold vacuum. I assume your Oakland does that as well. If your vacuum line to the wiper comes off the same fitting as the one to your fuel pump and if your fuel pump has leaks you might be losing vacuum there too.

[Guest oakland]

Thanks again for the info on what vacuum I should have. The vacuum line to my wipers comes off of the manifold.

The fuel pump is not vacuum operated, but the lever type which bolts to the engine block and the arm is operated from the camshaft. I will check the vacuum with my gauge. Yes, it has an updraft carburetor, a Marvel at that, which is not the best.

[Guest]

I had my wiper motor overhauled about 20 years ago and have lubricated it according to the owners manual about every second year (24,000 miles). I have had no trouble with the motor. Also as my car is a daily driver and we get quite a lot of rain on Vancouver Island it gets hours of use so dosen't have the chance to stick or dry out. I also have a marvel carb and have never had any serious problem in 49 years (387,000 miles). I did find though that the copper line running up inside the door pillar of the body had a small leak. Make sure that the vacuum at the manifold is the same as at the wiper motor.