Wiper linkage

Wiper linkage

Author
Discussion

Dickie Dastardly

Original Poster:

718 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
Has anyone ever had any issues with their wiper linkage? the linkage on my MK1 Tuscan disconnected itself on the drivers side while at Le Mans last week; the best way to describe it was the ball joint connected to the o/s crank slipped out of the connecting rod (which seems to be a hollow tube). I managed to reconnect it without having to remove the scuttle panel but it will need looked at further for peace of mind.

Is the removal of the scuttle panel straight forward? I could see underneath it what looked like some cap screws holding it in place.

Cheers

Richard

m3coupe

1,104 posts

203 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
Dickie Dastardly said:
Has anyone ever had any issues with their wiper linkage? the linkage on my MK1 Tuscan disconnected itself on the drivers side while at Le Mans last week; the best way to describe it was the ball joint connected to the o/s crank slipped out of the connecting rod (which seems to be a hollow tube). I managed to reconnect it without having to remove the scuttle panel but it will need looked at further for peace of mind.

Is the removal of the scuttle panel straight forward? I could see underneath it what looked like some cap screws holding it in place.

Cheers

Richard
Mine did that once, the two connecting 'bars' for want of a better work came apart making the wipers just flail about. I pushed them back together as you did and never had a problem again with it. I couldn't see any clips or anything to hold them in place and it looked like there was some sort of sealant or similar on the bars to hold in place. Not sure if that was a previous owner or from the factory though.

R7EBO

501 posts

141 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
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Yep, as with every other possible issue with these cars, I have indeed had this happen to me. Problem is there is nothing to hold it in - I even bought a full new set and it still did it. The only way I could really get over it was to stick a very short screw through the side of the rod and into the plastic cup stem. Never had an issue since!

The scuttle panel is easy enough to remove, take the wiper arms completely off via the allen key bolts and then remove the locknuts. Think there's a screw at each end as well, but that's about it!

Dickie Dastardly

Original Poster:

718 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
m3coupe said:
Mine did that once, the two connecting 'bars' for want of a better work came apart making the wipers just flail about. I pushed them back together as you did and never had a problem again with it. I couldn't see any clips or anything to hold them in place and it looked like there was some sort of sealant or similar on the bars to hold in place. Not sure if that was a previous owner or from the factory though.
Thanks that does sound very similar as I also could see no sign of any clip.
It had been very hot and I'd been stuck in traffic for circa two hours, perhaps the under bonnet heat played a part.

Dickie Dastardly

Original Poster:

718 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
R7EBO said:
Yep, as with every other possible issue with these cars, I have indeed had this happen to me. Problem is there is nothing to hold it in - I even bought a full new set and it still did it. The only way I could really get over it was to stick a very short screw through the side of the rod and into the plastic cup stem. Never had an issue since!

The scuttle panel is easy enough to remove, take the wiper arms completely off via the allen key bolts and then remove the locknuts. Think there's a screw at each end as well, but that's about it!
Thanks for that, very helpful. I might remove the scuttle panel for a better look but by the sounds of it its nothing too serious.

Dickie Dastardly

Original Poster:

718 posts

165 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
One saving grace was I converted my bonnet a few weeks ago (having had the kit lying in my garage since last year), was a god send as I was able to check under the scuttle panel at the side of the road then work on the car in the campsite without having to lift the bonnet off.

Every cloud and all that..... laugh

PetrolHeadPete

743 posts

188 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
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+1

I drilled through the tube and end linkage and added a small bolt and lock nut to hold them together.

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Friday 19th June 2015
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Richard,
Likewise, my wipers failed on very wet Belgian motormay en route to Spa!!!! Luckily the rain stopped, and the guys at the track had some Rain-X!!

When I got home I had to remove scuttle panel. Wiper arms off via allen capscrews on spindle, then release 27mm (?) nut circumfrential on spindle. 2 off self tappers at edges of moulding into inner wing through cup washers....and I removed one of the bonnet ball catch spring cupgs. This allows you to slide the grp scuttle panel out from the lower 'screen seal and expose wiper linkages.

My problem was that the link rod to the pass. side spindle had a 'muzak' metal adjuster which had snapped. I was able to get the apindles as a set from Racing Green Parts as they were at the time.

Since, I have contacted the original manufacturer (MATADOR) in Welwyn Garden City (I think) who supplied me with some snap rings for the N/S spindle....They sent me 5 of them FOC....which I thought was a really nice touch!

Nick