What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I need to lubricate a wiper motor. It starts to make squeaky noises after operating for a few minutes. What should I use?
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Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

In my '53, I removed the rubber vacuum hose from the base of the carb and shot some GIBBS Oil into it. The wiper motor freed up instantly and operated like new....It's best to use the long plastic applicator tube supplied with the GIBBS Oil when doing this.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I have read others saying just use any light weight oil. My ‘40 came to me with wipers frozen and I had same success as mentioned above. I pulled the motor(not difficult on a ‘40), a few drops of 3-in-1 light oil into the vacuum port, freed up instantly, now works like new.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Thanks for answers! Gibbs oil is not available in Russia. Is WD40 a substitute?

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

WD 40 isn't really a good lubricant. I've used Marvel Mystery oil which works OK but may not be available to you either. A very light oil such as 3&1 oil or sewing machine oil will do the job.
Ken

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

It will get it loose. The complaint with WD40 is it disappears. It design was for removing moisture. Any light weight oil should give a happy result.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Hi Pete,

I wondered about just pulling the hose as you did but didn’t think it would work since it drawing air away from the motor,i.e. vacuum line. In my 40 pulling the motor would not be easy.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Under what might be available to moonraker: I was thinking ATF, since it is a lite oil?

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Sewing machine oil...must be available worldwide...thin and designed to lube..usually high quality and in a small container...

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I can find sewing machine oil

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

With the hose disconnected, operate the wiper blade manually. Moving it in one direction (I forget which) creates a vacuum on the inlet.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Thanks Tubman that makes good sense.

Glenn

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Don't use WD-40 as it can cause pot metal to swell and ruin the wiper motor. light oil or open it up and use light grease.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I just found this great article on "Lubricating the Vacuum Wiper Motor". My motor is very stiff so I'll be just oiling using Marvel Mystery Oil, MMO, I know it is good for the leather in my Columbia vacuum canister so a good choice here.


I know that brake fluid and ATF will swell rubber and give a better seal. I'm not sure how it acts on leather which is used on the wiper motor internal paddle.



https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Tech...um%20Wiper.pdf


Glenn

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

... and a couple of patent office documents:

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Lubricating the Vacuum Wiper Motor

Here's how to lubricate the motor, which should be done three or four times a year: 1. Remove the vacuum hose at the wiper motor. Lightly hold your finger over the hose nipple on the motor and cycle the wiper blade back and forth.. Note that in one direction the motor sucks in air, and in the opposite direction, the motor expels air through the nipple. Place the wiper blade in the position such that the motor will begin to suck air at the nipple. 2. Attach a six‐inch long piece of hose to the motor nipple and hold the open end up. Using a squeeze bottle, force one teaspoonful of lubricant into the hose. Place a rag on the cowl below the wiper motor. Hold another rag over the open end of the hose. 3. Cycle the wiper blade back and forth several times. Repeat the process again, adding a second teaspoonful of lubricant. 4. Start the engine and run the wiper motor. It should run well. If it does not, the wiper motor should be disassembled, cleaned, inspected and a rebuilding kit installed. It is normal for the wiper to slow down when the car is accelerated, but it should not stop altogether.

[Editor Note: Using brake fluid as a lubricant is not recommended by Chuck Christensen, 2012 MAFCA Technical Director, as spilled brake fluid can damage the car's paint, either during the lubrication or afterward during wiper use. Instead, use a light machine oil.]

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

The instructions I have see say to use brake fluid.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Can you post the instructions you have please?

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Lubricating the Vacuum Wiper Motor

Here's how to lubricate the motor, which should be done three or four times a year: 1. Remove the vacuum hose at the wiper motor. Lightly hold your finger over the hose nipple on the motor and cycle the wiper blade back and forth.. Note that in one direction the motor sucks in air, and in the opposite direction, the motor expels air through the nipple. Place the wiper blade in the position such that the motor will begin to suck air at the nipple. 2. Attach a six‐inch long piece of hose to the motor nipple and hold the open end up. Using a squeeze bottle, force one teaspoonful of lubricant into the hose. Place a rag on the cowl below the wiper motor. Hold another rag over the open end of the hose. 3. Cycle the wiper blade back and forth several times. Repeat the process again, adding a second teaspoonful of lubricant. 4. Start the engine and run the wiper motor. It should run well. If it does not, the wiper motor should be disassembled, cleaned, inspected and a rebuilding kit installed. It is normal for the wiper to slow down when the car is accelerated, but it should not stop altogether.

[Editor Note: Using brake fluid as a lubricant is not recommended by Chuck Christensen, 2012 MAFCA Technical Director, as spilled brake fluid can damage the car's paint, either during the lubrication or afterward during wiper use. Instead, use a light machine oil.]

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I used brake fluid in the wiper motor of my '51 and it helped a lot. Using a bit of care can prevent paint damage from the brake fluid.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Thanks Pete, those are directions I posted above in the link. I was looking for these from redmodelt:

“The instructions I have see say to use brake fluid.”

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

I use ATF in the side tiny breather hole.
Clem

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

If I can find it again I will post the instruction sheet from Trico.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1464034
I also found this, but remember that the Model A had the wiper over the windshield on the out side where it could drip onto the cowl;
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Tech...um%20Wiper.pdf

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Neats-foot oil is an old time leather dressing used to soften, waterproof leather.
Disconnect the hose from the wiper motor, put a few drops of neats-foot oil into the motor, cycle it back and forth a few times to spread the oil around within the housing.
In the States neats-foot oil would be found in a farm/home store, the same is probably true in Russia..
ATF might be alright, however, ATF is designed for rubber/neoprene seals, might not be good for leather. WD-40 would be the worst thing to put into a wiper motor.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Vacuum Wiper Motor Service https://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.c...ors_update.php


When you took you car in for service in those days part of the "check-up" involved servicing the vacuum wiper motor.

The mechanic would remove the vacuum wiper hose from the engine manifold and hold it up in the air above the height of the dash and squirt brake fluid into the hose using an oilcan. The brake fluid would run down inside of the hose to the inside of the vacuum motor. Reconnecting the hose and turning on the wiper motor with the engine running would circulate the brake fluid inside of the vacuum motor and soften the leathers inside of the vacuum motor.

The final job was to be sure the brass intake screen on top of the vacuum motor was free of dirt and dust. The mechanic would use an air hose and pointed air hose nozzle to blow the screen clean. Then as now the cause of most vacuum wiper motor failures is lack of use.

You can try to revive an old vacuum wiper motor by removing it from the car and soaking it in a coffee can full of brake fluid for a day or two. That will soften up the leather bellows inside of the vacuum motor. Depending on their condition you might bring them back to life. If the leathers have been dried out for too long and are cracked and separated, then there is not much hope and you will have to send the vacuum motor off to get rebuilt.

And just so you know…then as today, 37 miles per hour is the speed at which bugs begin sticking to the windshield instead of glancing off.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Thanks Pete, very helpful information on wipers.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge!
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Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

Moonraker. This may not be applicable to your car, but I had a problem with the wipers not working properly on my '46 Coupe. I had the motor apart cleaned, oiled, tinkered, and talked to myself a bit, but still slow or not working. I was lucky when a fellow Barner offered and sent me the low usage motor from his car, which was stronger than mine. I installed it, but still not good enough to take the car out and get caught in the rain. More work/research showed two issues. The first, was that one of the wiper shafts, where it comes through the housing on the cowl was almost seized, so it was very stiff to turn. The second issue I found was that a previous owner had installed aftermarket wipers and wiper arms, and the spring tension on the wiper arms applied too much down force, creating more resistance than stock arms do. Freed up and lubed the shafts, installed correct wiper arms and all is good. Just don't try to pass that Corvette when it is raining.

Re: What lube for '39 vacuum wiper motor?
 

51woodie - thanks! Luckily, my situation is not so severe, it just needs lube
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