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The assembly manual and the ST-12 reference “pressing the transmission shaft to tension wiper cables”. Can’t figure how that works. Passenger side cables loose and wiper not working well. Found some posts about arm adjustment but haven’t located cable adjustment. I know I can’t expect modern-like performance but I would like them to perform as they were designed. Appreciate assistance. The picture is of what I’m calling the arm transmission shaft assembly and cables. (It’s upside down and sideways because that’s the way I was when taking the pic!) Thanks Jim
From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
I might be way off base here,as it's been 20+ years since I rebuilt my '54 and '57 wipers. I "think" there is a clock work spring in the housing that should wind tension on the cable when you push on the shaft end. Have you had the housing apart? The tensioning spring might rusted. Pushing on the shaft dis-engages the drive and allows the spring to tension the cable.
I might be way off base here,as it's been 20+ years since I rebuilt my '54 and '57 wipers. I "think" there is a clock work spring in the housing that should wind tension on the cable when you push on the shaft end. Have you had the housing apart? The tensioning spring might rusted. Pushing on the shaft dis-engages the drive and allows the spring to tension the cable.
Thanks, Ben. Haven’t had the assembly out of the car or disassembled. I’ll keep working on the shaft. Maybe it is rusted. Jim
remove the entire wiper transmission that is giving u trouble. place its body in a vice, then have a buddy depress the shaft(where the wiper arm attaches), then u grab both cables and pull on the cables. as the cables "pull out" have buddy release the wiper shaft. if the spring is intact, the cables will not retract. reinstall the transmission being careful not to depress the end of the shaft(or the cables will retract.) once cables installed on the drum, then depress the shaft and the cables retract and are tight on the drum.if spring gone, send to jay maxwell for possible repair. NOS transmissions are on ebay now and then, but salty. mike
remove the entire wiper transmission that is giving u trouble. place its body in a vice, then have a buddy depress the shaft(where the wiper arm attaches), then u grab both cables and pull on the cables. as the cables "pull out" have buddy release the wiper shaft. if the spring is intact, the cables will not retract. reinstall the transmission being careful not to depress the end of the shaft(or the cables will retract.) once cables installed on the drum, then depress the shaft and the cables retract and are tight on the drum.if spring gone, send to jay maxwell for possible repair. NOS transmissions are on ebay now and then, but salty. mike
Thanks, Mike. Let me ask this to see if I’m somewhere close to your instructions. Are The cables wound around a spring loaded shaft and work kind of like a drop-light reel and retract the cables to take up the slack when you push In the shaft. I’m probably way off, but I’m trying. Also, the ST-12 states that the cable adjustment must be completed after the transmission is installed and the cables are connected. I’m assuming, from your process, that they also be tensioned out of the car or in a vice. I reread your post and see that you reinstall before tensioning. Jim
PS: probably going to send to a pro. Thanks for the contact.
There must be 1,000 posts on this topic - here is some info on the transmissions....trying to tension them out of the car, and keeping that way while installing them, is a 1 in a 1000 shot. If they're working properly you just do it once their installed. More info here.
There must be 1,000 posts on this topic - here is some info on the transmissions....trying to tension them out of the car, and keeping that way while installing them, is a 1 in a 1000 shot. If they're working properly you just do it once their installed. More info here.
Thanks, Frank. The document makes the process a lot more understandable and possibly doable. I had no idea it was as involved as it looks to be. Jim
Its not all that complex...the shaft has a spring loaded "locking pawl" that mates with a fixed "locking pawl" to capture the cable in the stretched position when they meet... This allows for easier installation providing approx 1" of extra cable temporarily.
Once the wiper shaft is pushed down the next time the two pawls separate and the spring action takes up any cable slack..
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Aug 30, 2019 at 11:11 PM.
Windshield wiper cable adjustment
