Lots of good advise.

I personally would not use WD40 on wiper motors. It has a tendency to improve things when first applied then gums up with time. I would use a light oil, 3in1 or other oil based penetrating oil. WD40 does not have fish oil.

I didn't know the existence of the wiper arm tool, I will stop at the auto supply tomorrow and see if they have one, looks like something I should have.

I also use RainX. On a previous truck I had, the PO owner and switched from 6 to 12 volts and didn't change the wiper motors. If you ran the wipers longer than about 15 minutes they would start to smoke. I started using RainX and almost never used the wippers in 13 years. Didn't puposely take it on rainy days but didn't leave it at home because of it either.

JB50F1, unless you have plans for the other vacuum lines I would do away with the distribution block. Not much needs vacuum on a 50 F1.

Forgot about vacuum tanks, I think I have one I tried to sell at Hershey last year, better look at see if I still have it.

 

I found that a jewelers screwdriver can release the latch on the wiper arm without damage to anything but I agree the removal tool would be a much better idea. I'm going to pick one up.

I use Rain-X already and also try not to get stuck in the rain but it still happens occasionally. A large reason for this is just getting the vacuum wipers working so that they can sit unused on nice sunny days. One of those annoying, I know its there issues even if no one else knows.

 

Around here the DMV wants wipers working at inspection so.... it cant hurt to get it all up to speed. Plus,... it feels good to put these old trucks back into full operation once again.

 

Many thanks to all. 3 and 1 oil, vacuum line direct to the manifold, leave output open. All based on advice from FTE. I have wiper! Slow but full motion (unless of course I goose it).

 

Mine work better today also. I was going to pull the arm and weaken the spring so it didn't drag on the glass as hard. Stopped at a friends house on the way to pick up a arm removal tool. After he looked the truck over and adjust my idle jets (that he said were wrong), I asked him if he ever heard of an arm removal tool, he said he did but never saw a need for one. In about 3 seconds he had my arm off by pulling the arm back off the windshield, pushing up on the pressed on part of the arm with a screw driver. He handed me the arm and said why did I want it off. I told him of my idea of weakening the spring, he said I shouldn't need to. He decided the hing area of the arm was binding some, he put a little oil on it and worked it back and forth. Then he said that I shouldn't test on a dry windshield, and grabbed a spritzer bottle of water. We put it back on and he spritzed the windshield and it works fine now (at least at idle).

 

I jinxed myself! I had to put my Ranger in the shop. I am driving the Merc to work tomorrow and the forecast is for rain! I just refreshed the Rain-X

 

Reviewed this thread for help with my 48 F1 vacuum wiper, and learned quite a bit thanks.

I've had the truck for some time but use it sparingly/locally/drought ridden Calif..and thankfully we're getting buckets of rain this year, and so I'm eager to get it working.

I connected a vacuum line to it plus I got a new wiper blade at NAPA and it all works fine except..the off/on button is not working..it turns etc but still the wiper keeps working. Is there a separate On/Off switch..? I"m just turning the **** on top of the dash left or right etc. And don't see any effect.

Is there a known quick fix for that..or is it remove/disassemble clean inspect and reverse the procedure?

Tom