The Ford Barn

30aadoodlebug · 05-05-2015, 09:36 PM

Hey All,

So I'm the recent new owner of a barn find 1930 Tudor. The car has sat in a barn since 1956, and is in incredible condition considering the amount of time that it sat. Other than the generator, the only thing that is not working is the vacuum wiper system. It's pretty rusted, and I'm wondering if it needs to be rebuilt, or if it just needs a new rubber hose running from the cowl fitting to the wiper motor itself. That being said, could I need a rebuilt vacuum motor? or is my initial thought the fix. Also, if I do need to rebuild the motor, how would I go about it, as I have not been able to find any literature on it in any of my books.

Thanks,

Jon

RonC · 05-06-2015, 07:20 AM

post a picture. Vacuum motors don't rust. Maybe you have an electric motor?

1930artdeco · 05-06-2015, 08:47 AM

You don't need the wiper if you don't drive in the rain. But if you do, then I use Rain-X. It will work better and I have found the water beads up and off normally on the windshield due to being vertical. You may want to cap the system temporarily to prevent any vacuum leaks.

Mike

RonC · 05-07-2015, 05:24 AM

Never go anywhere without rain-x. Does away with needing a functioning wiper

Mike V. Florida · 05-07-2015, 08:18 AM

Pictures needed.

30aadoodlebug · 05-07-2015, 09:32 PM

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Sorry for the delayed reply, I'm in the middle of law school finals so they are taking most of my time. I removed the wiper motor off the car. Also, in talking to my father (another a enthusiest) he said something about a rebuild kit. I looked them up, and they only cost about $10, so I think this might be the route to go. Any ways, here are some shots of the motor.

RonC · 05-07-2015, 10:09 PM

Don't open it unless you have too. Soak it in 3 and 1 oil first and work the shaft back and forth. It may only need oil

Henry1953 · 05-07-2015, 10:23 PM

Check out WiperMan.com

oldbike99 · 05-08-2015, 08:04 AM

It is my understanding that the available kits do not fit that early style wiper motor with the "screw on" tin cover. The gasket kit does fit. As suggested, oil it up and try it first.

Redbird · 05-08-2015, 03:17 PM

Jon, Mine didn't work either. Someone on the forum told me to disconnect the vacuum hose, find a short piece of hose, add a few drops of 3 n 1 oil and blow it in while working the wiper back and forth. I did that, started up the car, and now works fine.

gpits68 · 05-09-2015, 06:29 PM

Looks like an original vaccum motor to me . I have been told the originals had the 2 screws on the cover like yours . I recently had mine torn apart and repaired , Mine had pitting inside on the area where it moves back and forth . I smoothed out the raised pits and cleaned everything and coated with 3 in 1 oil and replaced gasket . It works well . It must have no leaks .

glenn in camino · 05-09-2015, 07:31 PM

Get some Rainex.

oldbike99 · 05-09-2015, 07:55 PM

I agree that Rainex is a good product, but the question was how to get the wiper to function. It may not do a great job, but I too, want my wiper to work.

30aadoodlebug · 05-12-2015, 03:07 PM

Thanks all for the replies. Yes, I don't plan on driving my A in the rain (and if I do I'll use Rainex), but like any tinkerer it bothers me that it doesn't work.

CarlG · 05-12-2015, 04:05 PM

Since mine is a manual wiper, it only works when I do.

Jon-Ohio · 05-12-2015, 06:07 PM

Are there any technical web sites covering vacuum wiper rebuilding ?

Jon - in Ohio

jojofilo88 · 05-12-2015, 08:48 PM

This was a highly, non technical way of fixing mine, but I did take mine apart and oiled everything up. It wasn't too difficult and I got to see how it all worked. I cleaned the insides and oiled it again, then put it back together and it worked.

Driving to the Beardsley Cider Mill show this weekend was incredibly humid, so I ended up needing the wiper. Doesn't work nearly as well as a modern wiper, but definitely is effective!

Give that a shot first...maybe it just needs a good cleaning.

Joe

30aadoodlebug · 05-13-2015, 07:55 AM

Jon-Ohio, I found this on youtube, and it seems rather comprehensive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hqe4xw0z8M

Jon- in Massachusetts

30aadoodlebug · 05-14-2015, 10:32 PM

So, problem found. I did as everyone said and saturated the motor with 3-in-1 oil. This freed the wiper, but it still wasn't working. I decided to check the line from the firewall to the motor, and sure enough, it was the original fabric hose that was dried and split. I threw on a new rubber hose, and we're up And running. The reason for this wiper working and being so important is that here in Massachusetts, the wiper must function in order to pass inspection. Tomorrow I will find out if it will do so.

Thanks again for all of the feedback!

Jon

05-05-2015, 09:36 PM	#1
30aadoodlebug Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Boxborough, MA Posts: 274	Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Hey All, So I'm the recent new owner of a barn find 1930 Tudor. The car has sat in a barn since 1956, and is in incredible condition considering the amount of time that it sat. Other than the generator, the only thing that is not working is the vacuum wiper system. It's pretty rusted, and I'm wondering if it needs to be rebuilt, or if it just needs a new rubber hose running from the cowl fitting to the wiper motor itself. That being said, could I need a rebuilt vacuum motor? or is my initial thought the fix. Also, if I do need to rebuild the motor, how would I go about it, as I have not been able to find any literature on it in any of my books. Thanks, Jon

05-06-2015, 07:20 AM	#2
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? post a picture. Vacuum motors don't rust. Maybe you have an electric motor?

05-06-2015, 08:47 AM	#3
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,550	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? You don't need the wiper if you don't drive in the rain. But if you do, then I use Rain-X. It will work better and I have found the water beads up and off normally on the windshield due to being vertical. You may want to cap the system temporarily to prevent any vacuum leaks. Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

05-07-2015, 05:24 AM	#4
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Never go anywhere without rain-x. Does away with needing a functioning wiper

05-07-2015, 08:18 AM	#5
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Pictures needed. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

05-07-2015, 10:09 PM	#7
RonC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,868	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Don't open it unless you have too. Soak it in 3 and 1 oil first and work the shaft back and forth. It may only need oil Last edited by RonC; 05-08-2015 at 05:05 AM.

05-07-2015, 10:23 PM	#8
Henry1953 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Laurel, MS Posts: 126	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Check out WiperMan.com

05-08-2015, 08:04 AM	#9
oldbike99 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 194	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? It is my understanding that the available kits do not fit that early style wiper motor with the "screw on" tin cover. The gasket kit does fit. As suggested, oil it up and try it first. Last edited by oldbike99; 05-08-2015 at 08:51 AM.

05-08-2015, 03:17 PM	#10
Redbird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Georgetown, TX Posts: 535	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Jon, Mine didn't work either. Someone on the forum told me to disconnect the vacuum hose, find a short piece of hose, add a few drops of 3 n 1 oil and blow it in while working the wiper back and forth. I did that, started up the car, and now works fine.

05-09-2015, 06:29 PM	#11
gpits68 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Staunton , Virginia Posts: 239	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Looks like an original vaccum motor to me . I have been told the originals had the 2 screws on the cover like yours . I recently had mine torn apart and repaired , Mine had pitting inside on the area where it moves back and forth . I smoothed out the raised pits and cleaned everything and coated with 3 in 1 oil and replaced gasket . It works well . It must have no leaks .

05-09-2015, 07:31 PM	#12
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Get some Rainex.

05-09-2015, 07:55 PM	#13
oldbike99 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 194	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? I agree that Rainex is a good product, but the question was how to get the wiper to function. It may not do a great job, but I too, want my wiper to work.

05-12-2015, 03:07 PM	#14
30aadoodlebug Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Boxborough, MA Posts: 274	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Thanks all for the replies. Yes, I don't plan on driving my A in the rain (and if I do I'll use Rainex), but like any tinkerer it bothers me that it doesn't work.

05-12-2015, 04:05 PM	#15
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Since mine is a manual wiper, it only works when I do. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

05-12-2015, 06:07 PM	#16
Jon-Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 191	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Are there any technical web sites covering vacuum wiper rebuilding ? Jon - in Ohio

05-12-2015, 08:48 PM	#17
jojofilo88 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 48	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? This was a highly, non technical way of fixing mine, but I did take mine apart and oiled everything up. It wasn't too difficult and I got to see how it all worked. I cleaned the insides and oiled it again, then put it back together and it worked. Driving to the Beardsley Cider Mill show this weekend was incredibly humid, so I ended up needing the wiper. Doesn't work nearly as well as a modern wiper, but definitely is effective! Give that a shot first...maybe it just needs a good cleaning. Joe

05-13-2015, 07:55 AM	#18
30aadoodlebug Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Boxborough, MA Posts: 274	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? Jon-Ohio, I found this on youtube, and it seems rather comprehensive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hqe4xw0z8M Jon- in Massachusetts

05-14-2015, 10:32 PM	#19
30aadoodlebug Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Boxborough, MA Posts: 274	Re: Vacuum Wiper rebuild needed? Or something else? So, problem found. I did as everyone said and saturated the motor with 3-in-1 oil. This freed the wiper, but it still wasn't working. I decided to check the line from the firewall to the motor, and sure enough, it was the original fabric hose that was dried and split. I threw on a new rubber hose, and we're up And running. The reason for this wiper working and being so important is that here in Massachusetts, the wiper must function in order to pass inspection. Tomorrow I will find out if it will do so. Thanks again for all of the feedback! Jon