I'm rebuilding my vacuum wiper motor. This is probally a dumb question but can I remove the black gooey grease all over the paddle?

 

you can remove the black gooey stuff that acts like a washer between the wiper motor plate and the firewall, that's not critical. But, if you're talking about the black gooey stuff that lubricates the arm, don't remove too much 'cuz you'll need it to keep it lubed.

 

Nathan,

I'd be interested in the details of rebuilding a vacuum wiper motor. I have one that also need rebuilding. How about I send it to you?

BTW, I got the wiper linkage yesterday and I'm VERY happy with it. Thanks again...

 

I meant the paddle inside the motor. I think it is grease that has been sucked through the vacuum hose. Glad you got it Vern. I just took mine apart and will just clean it up since nothing looks broken. I used vise grips to undo the bolts.

 

I need to rebuild mine too. How about describing the various steps in detail for the rest of us? If it's anything like some of my endevors, then I'm sure you will make some, if not many, mistakes-wrong turns- or just general knucklehead moves. I always enjoy learning from other peoples' mistakes I'm being serious, Thanks, John

 

I just took everything apart. I plan on cleaning everything and just putting it back together it is a really simple motor. The vacuum just moves the paddle back and forth.

 

You used a Kentucky wrench to remove bolts?!?

Let's each chip in a nickel to get this boy a set of wrenches.

 

The motor uses a weird oval head that a normal screwdriver or wench wont fit. It is really small. I'd still accept the tools though.

 

I always thought that the grease was supposed to be there. It helps seal and lubricate the paddle. The reason most of these units don't work is because the grease has dried up. I just went through mine about 6 months ago. Cleaned every thing up and used liberal amounts of good quality bearing grease. Works great now.

I also used a vise grips to take it appart and replaced the screws with conventional phillip heads.

 

Don,

You used bearing grease? I looked into a vacuum motor many years ago and I thought the grease in it was white lithium grease. I have two motors, but both are frozen. I guess dissassembling them would not make them any worse even if I can't get them to work. If I can't get either of them to work, guess I'll have to go electric.

 

I removed most of the grease but left some on the side of the paddle. I don't think the grease is supposed to smell like oil and be very black.

 

Lubricants in the 50's weren't what they are today, Nathan. I highly doubt that what you are seeing in engine gook that has been "sucked in". The vacuum FROM the engine pulls AGAINST the motor, not the other way around. If anything of the sort were to happen, it would be wiper motor grease being sucked back into the engine. My advice would be to clean it out good and relubricate it with an adequate amount of white lithium grease. That stuff is thin enough to allow the engine vacuum to easily move the paddle but it lasts about forever. I've never been inside one of these, but I've seen some diagrams and have a good idea of how they work. Is there a seal of some sort on the paddle? If so, I'd make sure that you get it replaced as well.

 

Actually, I didn't use axle grease but chasis grease. Lithium might very well be the preferred stuff but at the time all I had on in the shop was my grease gun loaded up with muti-purpose moly grease.

Truth is, it probably dosn't matter much what you use. I would certainly avoid a grease that's to stiff or gets that way on a cold day.

If I remember correctly, the seal on the paddle is made of leather and not easily replaced. The bigger problem is saving the fragile paper gasget that keeps the whole thing air tight. However, a bit of silly cones generally saves the day.

 

But why would they cover the whole paddle really thick?

 

Nathan, ever seen the inside of a tranny after 50 years or so? The original 90W oil looks like chocolate jello and is real thick everywhere the gears don't actually move. I guess I could ask "Why did they coat the inside of the tranny with thick stuff all over?" but I think you get the point.