Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-18-2026, 09:23 AM   #1
Burgie
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 32
Default Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

I am in need of someone to rebuilt the vacuum wiper motor for my "36 Coupe. Any suggestions?
Burgie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2026, 09:33 AM   #2
deuce_roadster
Senior Member
 
deuce_roadster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Shelton, WA
Posts: 4,043
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Search this forum for who took over Kent Jaquith's business "Clean Sweep" I believe it is his niece who Kent trained. I believe she is in Eastern Washington State. Kent passed away a couple of years ago.
deuce_roadster is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-18-2026, 09:34 AM   #3
V8 Bob
Senior Member
 
V8 Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana
Posts: 1,611
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Ficken wiper motor service.



rebuildingtricowipers.com
https://rebuildingtricowipers.com

V8 Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2026, 10:44 AM   #4
Newc
Senior Member
 
Newc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,052
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Clean Sweep is now run by daughter in Redmond, Or area. Newc
Newc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2026, 11:07 AM   #5
deuce lover
Senior Member
 
deuce lover's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rockwall TX
Posts: 6,018
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Burgie View Post
I am in need of someone to rebuilt the vacuum wiper motor for my "36 Coupe. Any suggestions?

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ht=clean+sweep

Read posts 11,12 & 13
deuce lover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2026, 08:11 AM   #6
Kube
Super Moderator
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 10,539
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by V8 Bob View Post
NO! NO! NO!

I'll say this publicly... the guy is a total jerk. I'd sent him a motor months ago and when I called him, he yelled at me on the phone "I know more about these motors than anyone. What you (me) know could be put on the head of a pin. Your motor can't be rebuilt".
Seriously, that's a quote. I could not believe what i was hearing.
Anyway, got the motor back from him, found out about Clean Sweep, sent it to her and a week later it was returned working perfectly.
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2026, 11:55 AM   #7
TJ
Senior Member
 
TJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Napa,California
Posts: 6,773
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kube View Post
NO! NO! NO!

I'll say this publicly... the guy is a total jerk. I'd sent him a motor months ago and when I called him, he yelled at me on the phone "I know more about these motors than anyone. What you (me) know could be put on the head of a pin. Your motor can't be rebuilt".
Seriously, that's a quote. I could not believe what i was hearing.
Anyway, got the motor back from him, found out about Clean Sweep, sent it to her and a week later it was returned working perfectly.
Mike with his attitude it is good advertising for Melissa at "Clean Sweep". I have used her myself and would recommend her to anyone I know.
TJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2026, 12:48 PM   #8
ford38v8
Senior Member
 
ford38v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,634
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by TJ View Post
Mike with his attitude it is good advertising for Melissa at "Clean Sweep". I have used her myself and would recommend her to anyone I know.
Tom, have you ever met Mellissa? Has she ever set up at the Portland Swap as her grandfather Kent Jaquith had?
__________________
Alan
ford38v8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2026, 12:55 PM   #9
TJ
Senior Member
 
TJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Napa,California
Posts: 6,773
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Al, I have not met her, but talked on the phone with her. A very nice person and knows her business. Kent taught her well. I'm not sure if she has a booth at Portland. I'll check this year when I go up.
TJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2026, 01:06 PM   #10
Kube
Super Moderator
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 10,539
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by ford38v8 View Post
Tom, have you ever met Mellissa? Has she ever set up at the Portland Swap as her grandfather Kent Jaquith had?
Alan, I'd never met her either. But to reiterate, WOW! Great service, prompt service, great communication, fair prices.
Neat to find someone with those qualities all in one package
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2026, 05:49 AM   #11
V8 Bob
Senior Member
 
V8 Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana
Posts: 1,611
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kube View Post
NO! NO! NO!

I'll say this publicly... the guy is a total jerk. I'd sent him a motor months ago and when I called him, he yelled at me on the phone "I know more about these motors than anyone. What you (me) know could be put on the head of a pin. Your motor can't be rebuilt".
Seriously, that's a quote. I could not believe what i was hearing.
Anyway, got the motor back from him, found out about Clean Sweep, sent it to her and a week later it was returned working perfectly.

I had a totally different experience with Ficken when I sent my '51 wiper motor to him about 20 years ago with good communication, prompt service and fair cost. Sad to read that may not be true today.
V8 Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2026, 07:57 AM   #12
Kube
Super Moderator
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 10,539
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by V8 Bob View Post
I had a totally different experience with Ficken when I sent my '51 wiper motor to him about 20 years ago with good communication, prompt service and fair cost. Sad to read that may not be true today.
You were dealing with his Dad. Yep, a LOT had changed.
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2026, 08:43 PM   #13
Rbeck204
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 52
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

A quick tip I learned from my grandfather. I have put small amounts of brake fluid in the vacuum port and let them sit for days. The leather (I believe) inside swelled and the wipers worked again. Don’t know the longevity of this and it obviously won’t fix all but is worth a try if a wiper is complete but has just sat unused for a long time
Rich
Rbeck204 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2026, 01:30 AM   #14
ford38v8
Senior Member
 
ford38v8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7,634
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Rich, I wonder, would your grandfather have considered brake fluid to be a good engine oil additive? Your Trico wiper motor operates on engine vacuum. Don't put anything in there you wouldn't put directly into your crankcase. All those leather and cork parts and gaskets found on any car love straight engine oil, or better yet, silicone oil.
__________________
Alan
ford38v8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2026, 04:58 AM   #15
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 12,132
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

Ooops. My trick to revive a lazy WW motor is to put the hose into a small amount of brake fluid (say, a capful). Then I vigorously manually work the wipers back and forth until the fluid is all gone. It has always worked pretty well, and the small amount of brake fluid that may be left goes through the engine and is immediately burned up or pumped out the exhaust.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2026, 06:31 AM   #16
glennpm
Senior Member
 
glennpm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Mid-Coast Maine
Posts: 3,346
Default Re: Vacuum wiper motor restorer needed

You need Malo-Oil. :-)

"Trico Maro Oil was a specific light oil recommended in historical service documents (such as the 1981 Model "A" News and 1979 Skinned Knuckles) for lubricating Trico vacuum windshield wiper motors to restore life to dried packings and improve cleaner action.

Current Availability: The oil is no longer available under the specific name "Trico Maro Oil."
Recommended Substitutes: Enthusiasts and technicians now use various alternatives, including Marvel Mystery Oil, air compressor tool oil, refrigerator oil, air conditioner compressor oil, Mobil Vacuum Pump oil, or neatsfoot oil (specifically for older motors with leather seals).
Usage Context: The oil is applied via a short hose connected to the motor's vacuum port while the wiper is cycled to draw the lubricant into the internal mechanisms."

I have used and have great luck with air compressor oil for the wiper and my Columbia canister
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Oiling Trico Wipers B&W.jpg (55.0 KB, 8 views)
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Lubricating the Trico Vacuum Wiper.pdf (386.9 KB, 13 views)
__________________
Archives of historical but relevant older articles:
-------------
Hover mouse over the links below and click!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------
Rumble Seat’s Notes
Techno Source for the 1932 thru 1953 Flathead Ford
glennpm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:08 AM.