47-55.1 Wiper - What have I got?

[e015475]

There was a windshield wiper transmission in a box that came with my truck and not knowing any better I installed it on my truck.

I finally got around to ordering wiper arms and blades and they don't fit.

Here's a photo of what I've got - any ideas what it is? The spline is only about .250" diameter

[mr48chev]

The pictures I had must have been on my old computer I'll see if I can get decent photo in the morning to show what they should look like.

[dsraven]

to me, who hasn't seen an AD wiper shaft in awhile, it looks like the part that would go into the wiper arm stayed with the wiper arm when it was removed. that would mean there is supposed to be a larger round "barrel" that would press onto that shaft that is currently protruding. I'm not an AD expert but since the rest looks like it fits that is what makes sense to me. from memory, and I haven't actually done a magnet test or a scratch test to see what that "barrel" is made of, most wiper shafts I have seen are not steel where they push into the wiper arm but are something else. could this be the case? the arm siezed to the "barrel" so tight that the "barrel" pulled off the shaft instead of letting go of the arm? just spit balling here cuz I have no idea. it would be nice to know though, it would mean the shaft is actually 2 parts, the shaft and the adapter barrel. a quick net search shows a repair kit for a ford, maybe something like that could be used if the shaft size and outer diameter are the same. it is basically a set of new splined "barrels"
https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford-p...8-19268-1.html

[dsraven]

what does the other side look like? just curious

[nvrdone]

I agree with dsraven. I just looked at mine and there is a "barrel" that the wiper arm fits on to. could be that some one pulled the arm off with out releasing the clip on the back and the "barrel" came with it.
Brothers truck sells the wiper transmission linkage with the part that goes thru the cowel for $119.00

[e015475]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

Brothers truck sells the wiper transmission linkage with the part that goes thru the cowl for $119.00

"what does the other side look like? just curious"

I was hoping there was some sort of intermediate 'barrel' that went between the arm and the transmission armature, kinda like that repair piece from Mac auto parts. I see repo wiper transmission linkage available but was hoping I was just missing a part.

I put a New Port electric wiper motor in it when I was building the cab after paint and it seems like I had to modify the length of the transmission arm per their installation instructions to get it working correctly.

The repo wiper arms I bought have an internal spline with a minor diameter of a little more than .500"

So if there's some sort of intermediate barrel piece I'm missing, it'd have an internal spline of about .250" and an external spline of about .500"

Thanks for all your input............

[mr48chev]

I went out and took a couple of shots of one this morning. I'd say that Dsraven wins the prize today. the knob with the splines that hold the arm pulled off with the arm. You can see that they staked the end of this one pretty hard.

[mr48chev]

Did you look in the old arm to see if the piece was in it? I've had them come off with the arm when I popped the arm off before.

[e015475]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Did you look in the old arm to see if the piece was in it? I've had them come off with the arm when I popped the arm off before.

My truck was mostly boxes of parts when I bought it and there were no wiper arms, I'm sorry to say

[mr48chev]

That was the true truck in a basket.

[e015475]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I went out and took a couple of shots of one this morning. I'd say that Dsraven wins the prize today. the knob with the splines that hold the arm pulled off with the arm. You can see that they staked the end of this one pretty hard.

Thanks MR48chev - I think you've solved the mystery. DSRaven/Nvrdone - thanks for the insights too.

[dsraven]

probably the fella who took the wiper arms off had trouble with that one and used a bar or screwdriver under it to force it off. that was enough to force the little barrel off the shaft instead of out of the arm. sometimes a little dab of lube on the arm when assembling will help the corrosion issue. just a small dab though because it will melt out and make a mess. I have been using the silicone based synthetic lube for brakes for a lot of stuff like that. it comes in a tube like tooth paste. a little dab and it seems to stay put pretty well.

[Hcb3200]

Good news is they make replacements.
Do a google search for Wiper Knurl Stud and see what you get.

Here is a picture and it has a nice set screw for easy installing.
You just need to find correct size.

[Hcb3200]

Picture

[e015475]

Originally Posted by Hcb3200

Picture

Seems like with a lot of things, if you just knew what it was called you might be able to find one. Who knew the windshield wiper linkage is also called a 'transmission' and the spline is called a 'knurl'?

With the clue you provided, it seems the manufacturer of the wiper motor, New Port, sells them for about $6 a pair. Will call them this week and see if I can get squared away. Beats the heck out of $150 for a new "transmission"

Thanks!

[dsraven]

great news. now you gotta find something to spend all the money you saved on, lol. thats what the wife does. "I got the cheaper purse and a pair of shoes for the same money as the more expensive purse". haha.

[e015475]

Originally Posted by dsraven

great news. now you gotta find something to spend all the money you saved on, lol. thats what the wife does. "I got the cheaper purse and a pair of shoes for the same money as the more expensive purse". haha.

Mine has been hitting all the local thrift shop for 'bargains' then coming home and searching for them on-line and crowing about how much money she's made. Getting dangerously close to the same rationalizations I use for car parts and tools.

To close this out, here's the wiper shaft adapter if anyone needs the info in future -

New Port Engineering Knurl Adapter ¼” Shaft - NE13003-PAIR

Remains to be seen if the knurl fits the truck's wiper arm, but they have a nice selection of aftermarket arms if they don't

[mr48chev]

The knurl should be good, I have later style arms on my truck.. Actually Trico adjustable ones that I took apart and shortened and put back together to have shorter arms for the MG wiper blades for my 4 inch chop.

[_Ogre]

RainX is your friend, my friend. TRUK has working electric wipers, but hasn't had wiper arms since 2011 and 36,000 miles.

[dsraven]

I tried rain X in the city but not enough airflow to push te water off the glass. great on the highway though. I found with rainX on the glass, in the city, when I use the wipers it takes a sec for the glass to become clear again after the wiper passes. anybody else find that issue?

[dsraven]

post 9, somebody did a lot of work for you there, it's just a little fun figuring out how it all fits together now. do you have an assembly manual?

[e015475]

Originally Posted by dsraven

post 9, somebody did a lot of work for you there, it's just a little fun figuring out how it all fits together now. do you have an assembly manual?

No assembly manual - Mr48Chevy, you and others on this board help me out when I get in a bind

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I tried rain X in the city but not enough airflow to push te water off the glass. great on the highway though. I found with rainX on the glass, in the city, when I use the wipers it takes a sec for the glass to become clear again after the wiper passes. anybody else find that issue?

never had that problem in 13 years i've had truk on the road. you gotta use the original rainx not the stuff that goes into the wiper spray bottle. i don't have wiper arms mounted. i use it on the dd too

[mr48chev]

I used to use Rain x on my 48 a lot and it worked pretty good at highway speeds. You could probably do the same thing with a good coat of highly buffed wax though.

[leegreen]

My father once told me that back in his hot rodding days in the 50s they'd rub a cut in half potato on the windshield for the rain-x affect. I never tried it.

I've used rainx to good affect on DDs, but it only lasts a few hours around here in the 10 month rainy season and it is hard to find a dry day to re-apply. I focus on new wiper blades and keeping the washer reservoir full. If I rainx anything it is usually door mirrors and rear windows.

it has not rained around here since I put the '52 on the road so i don't know how effective my wipers are. Or door seals for that matter.