Wiper Door Question
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Waco TX
Wiper Door Question
I'm rebuilding the wiper door mechanism on my 72. It has a spring that looks like it should move to absorb what I assume would be excess pressure opening/closing. Mine does not move. I'm assuming that it should? Also, is the hing rod one piece or does it connect under the spring. It would be nice to take it completely apart to blast the whole thing. Advice/info would be appreciated!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
When I rebuilt my linkage the spring was frozen also. It looked to me like it was designed to limit the amount of force. I think it was a fairly common problem for the spring to freeze onto the shaft. I have seen a lot of right side linkages broken and every sense I took my linkage apart and repaired the spring I have thought back that the frozen spring lead to the broken linkage.
Yes the bar is one piece and the spring rests on a metal pipe that has some type of bushings (nylon I think). I ground the end off of one side and removed the bracket from the rod on mine and when I installed it I just welded it back on. Pay attention to the side you take loose if my memory is right you can only remove the spring and the pipe it rests on from one side because of a metal piece that is welded onto the rod.
You might want to mark the inside of the bar to the rod so you can weld it back in the same place. I forgot to mark mine and then I got it as close as I could and still ended up having to adjust the ends to get the arms in the same place. The adjustment was made by bending/twisting the rod with two adjustable wrenchs one on each metal bar.
Yes the bar is one piece and the spring rests on a metal pipe that has some type of bushings (nylon I think). I ground the end off of one side and removed the bracket from the rod on mine and when I installed it I just welded it back on. Pay attention to the side you take loose if my memory is right you can only remove the spring and the pipe it rests on from one side because of a metal piece that is welded onto the rod.
You might want to mark the inside of the bar to the rod so you can weld it back in the same place. I forgot to mark mine and then I got it as close as I could and still ended up having to adjust the ends to get the arms in the same place. The adjustment was made by bending/twisting the rod with two adjustable wrenchs one on each metal bar.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Waco TX
Thanks for the info. I thought about removing one of the side brackets. Good to know that it has been done before. Do you know if the bushings on the rod/spring/brackets are sold by one of the vendors?
Scott
Scott
When I rebuilt my linkage the spring was frozen also. It looked to me like it was designed to limit the amount of force. I think it was a fairly common problem for the spring to freeze onto the shaft. I have seen a lot of right side linkages broken and every sense I took my linkage apart and repaired the spring I have thought back that the frozen spring lead to the broken linkage.
Yes the bar is one piece and the spring rests on a metal pipe that has some type of bushings (nylon I think). I ground the end off of one side and removed the bracket from the rod on mine and when I installed it I just welded it back on. Pay attention to the side you take loose if my memory is right you can only remove the spring and the pipe it rests on from one side because of a metal piece that is welded onto the rod.
You might want to mark the inside of the bar to the rod so you can weld it back in the same place. I forgot to mark mine and then I got it as close as I could and still ended up having to adjust the ends to get the arms in the same place. The adjustment was made by bending/twisting the rod with two adjustable wrenchs one on each metal bar.
Yes the bar is one piece and the spring rests on a metal pipe that has some type of bushings (nylon I think). I ground the end off of one side and removed the bracket from the rod on mine and when I installed it I just welded it back on. Pay attention to the side you take loose if my memory is right you can only remove the spring and the pipe it rests on from one side because of a metal piece that is welded onto the rod.
You might want to mark the inside of the bar to the rod so you can weld it back in the same place. I forgot to mark mine and then I got it as close as I could and still ended up having to adjust the ends to get the arms in the same place. The adjustment was made by bending/twisting the rod with two adjustable wrenchs one on each metal bar.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,281
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Scott,
I looked through my catalogues for the bushings sized for the rod. I only see bushings sized for the pivots (smaller). The larger bushings look pretty substantial compared to the smaller... are you sure you can't save/reuse yours?
Regards,
Alan
I looked through my catalogues for the bushings sized for the rod. I only see bushings sized for the pivots (smaller). The larger bushings look pretty substantial compared to the smaller... are you sure you can't save/reuse yours?
Regards,
Alan
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
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From: Waco TX
Alan,
I'm not sure that the existing bushings can't be reused but they are fairly brittle due to age. If I could find replacements I would definetely go that route. I already bought the hinge bushings and rivets and it would be nice to be able to find some replacements for the larger bushings as well since I may need to move them around to blast the rod in which case I will certainly run the risk of breaking them. I can tell you that I don't plan to budge them unless I have replacements in hand.
Scott
I'm not sure that the existing bushings can't be reused but they are fairly brittle due to age. If I could find replacements I would definetely go that route. I already bought the hinge bushings and rivets and it would be nice to be able to find some replacements for the larger bushings as well since I may need to move them around to blast the rod in which case I will certainly run the risk of breaking them. I can tell you that I don't plan to budge them unless I have replacements in hand.
Scott
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,281
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Scott,
Some of the larger vendors list the door linkage in their catalogue as 'reconditioned'. I wonder if they ever have to replace the larger bushing? Maybe they have really broken linkages which they scavenge for parts. MAYBE they would sell you some?
You're right about that white nylon/plastic getting brittle over the years.
Having fun yet?
Regards,
Alan
Some of the larger vendors list the door linkage in their catalogue as 'reconditioned'. I wonder if they ever have to replace the larger bushing? Maybe they have really broken linkages which they scavenge for parts. MAYBE they would sell you some?
You're right about that white nylon/plastic getting brittle over the years.
Having fun yet?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
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From: Waco TX
Alan,
You raise a good point about asking the various vendors about the larger bushings. Mine are not broken...yet so I may be able to re-use them...hopefully. If not, I may try the Lowes route as per Wills670's post. I'm hoping if I look around that I may be able to find comparable replacements. As for the having fun part, it seems that everything that I touch in the process of rebuilding my 72 has its problem. This week...it's the wiper door linkage bushings. Onward and upward my friend!!
Scott
You raise a good point about asking the various vendors about the larger bushings. Mine are not broken...yet so I may be able to re-use them...hopefully. If not, I may try the Lowes route as per Wills670's post. I'm hoping if I look around that I may be able to find comparable replacements. As for the having fun part, it seems that everything that I touch in the process of rebuilding my 72 has its problem. This week...it's the wiper door linkage bushings. Onward and upward my friend!!
Scott
Hi Scott,
Some of the larger vendors list the door linkage in their catalogue as 'reconditioned'. I wonder if they ever have to replace the larger bushing? Maybe they have really broken linkages which they scavenge for parts. MAYBE they would sell you some?
You're right about that white nylon/plastic getting brittle over the years.
Having fun yet?
Regards,
Alan
Some of the larger vendors list the door linkage in their catalogue as 'reconditioned'. I wonder if they ever have to replace the larger bushing? Maybe they have really broken linkages which they scavenge for parts. MAYBE they would sell you some?
You're right about that white nylon/plastic getting brittle over the years.
Having fun yet?
Regards,
Alan
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,281
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Scott,
I know how you feel about the problems that seem to be around almost every corner. Remember, we're working on cars that were being built to have a life of what? 8-10 years ?
When I bought my 71 in 1971 I thought it would be gone in 2 or 3 years just like all the other cars I'd owned.
It's ALL fun!!!
Regards,
Alan
I know how you feel about the problems that seem to be around almost every corner. Remember, we're working on cars that were being built to have a life of what? 8-10 years ?
When I bought my 71 in 1971 I thought it would be gone in 2 or 3 years just like all the other cars I'd owned.
It's ALL fun!!!
Regards,
Alan
