Wiper motor re build and rennovate

[fog66]

Pretty much as the title explains, my wiper motor was looking pretty shabby so I decided to take it out to clean it up which as these jobs have a habit of doing turned into a rebuild. The bushes were almost completely worn and the park switch was looking past its best. Thanks to mini spares I have a new bush board, park switch and also a wiring loom with the connector too. Anyway my question is this, what type of grease is suitable to use on the internal moving parts and the flexible cord? I have a big pot of copper grease would this be ok?

Thanks as always for any advice.

Edited by fog66 on Friday 1st March 06:52

[Sardonicus]

Dont use copper grease I tend to use this stuff for that kind of thing

[fog66]

Sardonicus said:

Dont use copper grease I tend to use this stuff for that kind of thing

Am I missing something, what stuff would that be?

[Engineer1949]

Copper grease is mainly used to lubricate bolts studs any items that traditionaly sieze like manifold bolts ,the idea is the grease will eventually burn or wash away leaving a copper coating it was originally formulated by caterpillar but it is not a motion lubricant,just use any lightweight good quality grease could also use graphite grease but again only lightweight.


John

[ChimpOnGas]

Use a lithium grease.

Lithium grease has a very wide service temperature range of -70°C to + 120°C.

It wont soften in the hot under bonnet environment, and it wont go hard on a cold morning either just when you need your wipers most.

It also doesn't go hard over time like the stuff Lucas used back in the day.

That stuff was terrible for going hard, often ending up like sticky plasticine after a only few years & so doing more harm than good.

Lithium grease will not do this, much much better

Take the opportunity to reverse your wheel boxes to use the fresh teeth & consequently double their life.

Buy a small pot of Lithium grease for lightly packing the crank & motor mechanism area, and a small aerosol for a final light spray of the harder to reach areas.

Don't over apply, less is more.

Use the white Lithium grease not the brown, it's typically much lighter weight than the brown stuff.


NB: As Sardonicus says, don't use Copper Slip or similar, it's fantastic stuff & every mechanic will have a pot of this wonder grease to hand (hence his joke).

It can therefore be tempting to use it for everything, but copper grease is mildly conductive as is graphite grease, so they are actually the last things you want to use in something like a wiper motor.

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Friday 1st March 07:45

[Sardonicus]

fog66 said:

Sardonicus said:

Dont use copper grease I tend to use this stuff for that kind of thing

Am I missing something, what stuff would that be?

Sorry Fog here you go http://www.maplin.co.uk/silicone-grease-with-ptfe-...

[blaze_away]

fog66 said:

Pretty much as the title explains, my wiper motor was looking pretty shabby so I decided to take it out to clean it up which as these jobs have a habit of doing turned into a rebuild. The bushes were almost completely worn and the park switch was looking past its best. Thanks to mini spares I have a new bush board, park switch and also a wiring loom with the connector too. Anyway my question is this, what type of grease is suitable to use on the internal moving parts and the flexible cord? I have a big pot of copper grease would this be ok?

Thanks as always for any advice.

Edited by fog66 on Friday 1st March 06:52

Hi Phil

I have looked on the mini spares site (http://www.minispares.com/) but wasn't able to find a "bush board" is that a special order or am I on the wrong web site ?

My wipers are less than perfect and I suspect bushes/bearings need to be replaced.

Edited by blaze_away on Friday 1st March 22:07

[Sardonicus]

blaze_away said:

fog66 said:

Pretty much as the title explains, my wiper motor was looking pretty shabby so I decided to take it out to clean it up which as these jobs have a habit of doing turned into a rebuild. The bushes were almost completely worn and the park switch was looking past its best. Thanks to mini spares I have a new bush board, park switch and also a wiring loom with the connector too. Anyway my question is this, what type of grease is suitable to use on the internal moving parts and the flexible cord? I have a big pot of copper grease would this be ok?

Thanks as always for any advice.

Edited by fog66 on Friday 1st March 06:52

Hi Phil

I have looked on the mini spares site (http://www.minispares.com/) but wasn't able to find a "bush board" is that a special order or am I on the wrong web site ?

My wipers are less than perfect and I suspect bushes/bearings need to be replaced.

Edited by blaze_away on Friday 1st March 22:07

Speak to Adrian@ on these very forums he does the spares and knows loads about this wiper motor

[fog66]

blaze_away said:

Hi Phil

I have looked on the mini spares site (http://www.minispares.com/) but wasn't able to find a "bush board" is that a special order or am I on the wrong web site ?

My wipers are less than perfect and I suspect bushes/bearings need to be replaced.

Edited by blaze_away on Friday 1st March 22:07

Hi Frank

The parts I ordered are:-

Part No. Description
520160A. Wiper Motor Park Switch
520161. Wiper Motor Plug and Loom Repair Wire
RTC198A. Wiper Motor Brush Kit

Thanks to everyone for the lubrication clarification too, I thought people might just say forget copper use normal grease! I wasn't prepared for the level of astounding information given about this seemingly mundane subject. Cheers.