Delay Wiper Upgrade Update
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Townsend, MT
Delay Wiper Upgrade Update
5 or so years ago I pulled the wiper switch and governor out of an '89 F350 for my '66. The wiring was plug and play with my existing wiper motor. Over the past few years the delay wipers have worked flawlessly for what little I have used them (maybe 10 days out of a year). A couple months ago my wipers quit. After doing some checking, I decided that the motor failed - both high and low circuits test open. I pulled the wiper motor out of a '74 F250 in the junk pile and all was well. With me being me though, I just couldn't let it go without knowing why it failed.
I was doing some light reading in Dad's OEM 1975 ford truck repair manuals and ran across the wiper section in the electrical manual. At the bottom of the page is a note that reads:
"Beginning in 1969, wiper motors use ceramic magnets and must be handled with care to avoid damaging the magnets."
Obviously the change in 1969 coincides with the release of delay wipers as an option on Ford motor vehicles. I would venture to say that the change to ceramic magnets was done do make wiper motors last and thus my original March of 1966 wiper motor was not built to withstand being controlled by the delay governor.
So the question still begs: Why?
What type of magnet did pre-1969 wiper motors use and why do they not last with the intermittent action? What is it that kills them? Is it the extra heat from the extra current needed to start the motor every time the wipers cycle?
I was doing some light reading in Dad's OEM 1975 ford truck repair manuals and ran across the wiper section in the electrical manual. At the bottom of the page is a note that reads:
"Beginning in 1969, wiper motors use ceramic magnets and must be handled with care to avoid damaging the magnets."
Obviously the change in 1969 coincides with the release of delay wipers as an option on Ford motor vehicles. I would venture to say that the change to ceramic magnets was done do make wiper motors last and thus my original March of 1966 wiper motor was not built to withstand being controlled by the delay governor.
So the question still begs: Why?
What type of magnet did pre-1969 wiper motors use and why do they not last with the intermittent action? What is it that kills them? Is it the extra heat from the extra current needed to start the motor every time the wipers cycle?
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Intermittent (delay) wipers introduced in 1969 Galaxie/LTD/Marquis/Lincoln Town Car/Fairlane/Torino/Mustang/Cougar. 1970 Thunderbird/Continental Mark III
1973 F100/350, 1975 Econoline, 1978 Bronco.
1973 F100/350, 1975 Econoline, 1978 Bronco.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 6
From: Great White North
I am surprisingly intrigued by intermittent wipers. A dull rainy day years ago combined with being easily entertained by the boob tube (TV), I watched a movie called Flash of Genious. It is based on Richard Kearn's invention of the delay wiper and how Ford came about to using it. Here is a link to the inventor's Wikipedia site.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kearns
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kearns
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,522
Likes: 11
From: Townsend, MT
I am surprisingly intrigued by intermittent wipers. A dull rainy day years ago combined with being easily entertained by the boob tube (TV), I watched a movie called Flash of Genious. It is based on Richard Kearn's invention of the delay wiper and how Ford came about to using it. Here is a link to the inventor's Wikipedia site.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kearns
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kearns
Anyways, has anyone ever delved into our wipers motors to see what all was changed in 1969?
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Knight70F250
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Dec 7, 2005 01:54 PM
