Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi all, having read Owen Burton's Modification manual, I would like to undertake a fitting of a 2 speed wiper mod. I have a suitable 2 speed wiper motor, but as I understand it from the manual, to achieve the corect wipe arc some pirating/modification of the Minor single speed wiper drive plate to donor into the 2 speed unit is required. The description of this undertaking in the Mod Manual will probably become clear once the various bits are on the bench.
However before I start, has anybody undertaken this mod. Was it as simple as stated. Any advice would be appreciated as I don't want to get into the job and stuff up the Minor Wiper and yet not achieve a correct 170 degree arc working 2 speed unit. I know a 2 Speed Wiper kit can be purchased but is quite pricey and I like a challenge.Regards Rich

I fitted the marina unit to my 62 saloon,then never used it.
Use "rain x" and you will not need wipers at all(except for this snow)

i tried rain x and found it left a smear every time the wipers swept

si i chucked it away

Me too! (Oh dear- is that another negative comment ?) The traditional 2 speed supposedly involved finding a Triumph 2000 in the scrappy! if you are using a Mini wiper motor - it will likely be ok. Take some pics as you go along - and then write the mod up on here.

straight forward having just done it my self.. for the second time.. apparently the wiper fitted to the marina/ital estate has the correct arc wheel so will save you doing the mod..(if you can find one that is).

I found rain x to be fantastic,i used it for years on my 69 spitscreen vw bus.
But then i had to because the wipers were that bad.

you pays your money......

also smeared on my astra van

it also leaves a horrible residue on the screen

I once tried to smear on an astra van - did nothing for the wipers but it did rip my front wing off

Rain x is a but fussy. It requires a perfectly clean screen before application but when applied correctly the results are well worth while. The improvement in visibility rearward through the side mirrors and windows is especially good.

i cleaned the glass with white vinegar, also other makes of window glass cleaner

they were both new screens as well

" I once tried to smear on an astra van - did nothing for the wipers but it did rip my front wing off " - Oh dear - you will never fly again! Poor thing.

Did you clean the wipers and use plain water or RainX additive in the washer?

Rain X is at it's best on a modern where a smooth airflow across a raked screen helps the beaded water to run off.

I tried rainex years ago and it was very unsuccessful, but I bought a new bottle last year and was surprised how good it was. I suspect they have changed the formula.

I have used it on about a dozen cars over the years and they have all taken it well apart from my current car. The beading effect doesn't seem to last anywhere near as long on the screen although the side window treatment is still effective. Perhaps a previous screen wash liquid has had a long lasting effect.

I have used it over the last couple of years and found it pretty good especially on the side windows at road junctions.

I do hate to change the subject, but can we stop talking about Rain X and go back to the two-speed wiper mod? That's what I clicked on the topic to read about.

I have a question, then. Could someone find a fitting motor with more than two speeds? Just two seems rather dangerous to me (though far less so than just the one). If you're caught in a torrential rainstorm (and not using Rain X), what can you do if your wipers are only going at a wipe per second or so? You'd have to pull over. So I'd much prefer to have three or four speeds. Three would be perhaps optimal.

Also, I'd like to keep it looking as original as possible, so would it be plausible to find a switch of roughly the same size as the original, but that turned, and allowed me to keep the pull-button that I so adore?

I have just noticed your location. We don't very often get the heavy downpours here hence the lack of information on two speed wipers. Also your reference to a pull knob suggests that you have "clap hand wipers" which have a different arc. For the switch you may be able to use a light switch and swap the knobs over.
Birmingham Morris Minor Centre advertise a 2 speed wiper kit (specify the age of your car). There are a selection of options with prices from £117 to £153. info@morrisminor.co.uk

Later Minis etc have 2 speed wiper motors which can be used. In the day - the trick was supposedly to get a 2 speed wiper motor from a Triumph 2000. I don't think I've ever heard of a motor with more than 2 speeds ?? I speeded up my clap hands wipers by fitting a rheostat in the Field Circuit - this provided Field Weakening to oppose the Back EMF - and allowed the motor to run faster - but ONLY if the screen was very wet. On a dry screen it would stall out at the higher speed.

Yup -- clap hands! I absolutely adore them. Having not yet driven my Mog in heavy rain, though, I'm not sure if they're particularly effective. All this I'll find out in the summer.

Interesting ideas, Mike and BMC. I may in the end have to go with the two-speed -- as I certainly won't be keeping the one speed, considering I live in Tornado (and thunderstorm) Alley -- but I just wonder if a specialty shop or a private tinkerer couldn't whip up a suitable three-speed motor? You don't suppose this'd void my warrantee? I'll do some research. You'd think somebody would have come up with a mass-made three-speed by now.

It's funny, though. I know wiper motors with more than two speeds exist for other cars -- my parents' Chevrolet Blazer's wipers have seven speeds -- but I suppose all of these are too computer-controlled, or the wrong size, or whatever, for the Morris Minor.

Tell you what -- if I figure it out and can build/have one built, and it works all right in testing, maybe I'll tempt Bull Motif, ESM, and the Birmingham MMC with it.

No no - go straight to Charles Ware..........

I suspect the 7 speeds will be done electronically - using a stepper motor or similar! I know the 2 speed Lucas wiper is done by having an extra brush part way round the commutator - in fact many many years ago I bought that brush assembly with a view to fitting it to a 1 speed wiper motor, but haven't got to it just yet!
I fancy if you speed up the wipers too much - the blade tips will exceed the speed of sound - there will be sonic booms which will crack the screen........... So take care!