Morris Minor Owners Club

It's getting really embarassing to have to keep telephoning people to say I can't make appointments because my windscreen wipers only have two speeds - slow and stop, thus can't go out in wet weather.
Aside from all the whizzo 1500 engine, 5 speed gearbox, go-faster everything else on my work-a-day Mog, the wipers let me down big time. They also only go halfway across the windscreen which leads to severe stiff neck syndrome during rain storms. I read somewhere that you can buy water resistant windscreen wash which may help. Any ideas where I could get hold of this?

Somebody more knowledgeable than I will be along shortly to give you a difficulty to fit rating, but there are 2 speed wiper kit conversions available from all good minor spares dealers.

RainX is the stuff you are looking for and it helps disperse the water of the screen.

Your wipers sound like they need looking at though as they should wipe right across as well as clear the screen. If you have some basic tools and know how to use them it's not too hard to strip out the wiper mechanism, clean it up and lubricate it. The motor mights also be past it's best and need new brushes.

In my experience do NOT use any screen treatments. A tried a well known brand. Followed the instructions (they're not difficult!) and then found that my wipers got stuck. Thoroughly cleaning the screen to get rid of the "protective finish" cured the problem. My serious recommendation is to use toothpaste to clean the screen. It acts as a very fine grinding paste. Apply as you would with polish - use a soft cloth, apply in straight lines, and then use a circular motion to clean. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. It really does give you much better vision.

Your wipers going only part way over the screen could be because of a gearing problem. If the wiper boxes have been reaplced with new ones then you are stuffed. The new parts have the wrong number of teeth on them. and do not move the correct distance. One well known supplier knows this, and will not sell the new parts. Others seem to sell them but deny all knowledge of the problem.

The two speed kit is very simple to fit. You can use either a dash mounted switch or a column one. The slow speed is slightly slower than the standard one, but on high speed, the blades fair fly across the screen. Of course, if you have the wrong wiper boxes, then the arms still won't go all the way.

Two speed is very useful for motorway work in torrential rain, but for most cases the standard set up, with all parts in good condition, is more than adequate.

Get some RAIN X on the screen . do not go for the 2in 1 version get the original RAIN X
do not listen to them that say it is crap /
first clean the screen well with a good quality glass cleaner then apply the rain x leave to dry and buff off
Reapply a second coat and buff then reapply every time the screen gets wet .
And you will never need to use the wipers.

When you are out driving and it starts to rain do not be tempted to put on your wipers just drive on it will start to run off .

I haven't used my wipers in 3 years and I do around 3000 miles a year we travelled down to the national in the wettest driving conditions I have ever seen without wipers .
Some of the others in the convoy lost wipers or they packed up and had to stop .
try it you wont regret

good tip get the rain x from Morrison's as it is cheeper then halfords ...

Sounds to me that the wipers are at least partially seized... simple first step is to trickle some oil down into the wheel boxes. Remove the arms - and do this while running the wipers. If this doesn't make enough of a difference - strip down and clean/regrease of the rack and wheelboxes will be required. New brushes in the motor will help too! Really no need to go to the expense/hassle of 2 speed wipers.........

bmcecosse wrote:Sounds to me that the wipers are at least partially seized... simple first step is to trickle some oil down into the wheel boxes. Remove the arms - and do this while running the wipers. If this doesn't make enough of a difference - strip down and clean/regrease of the rack and wheelboxes will be required. New brushes in the motor will help too! Really no need to go to the expense/hassle of 2 speed wipers.........

All noted B.M.C. fine advice as always.
I did figure however if a 1500 engine is fitted and all mod cons to boot, then we are of course not dealing with common mortals here,spending clearly does not present the shiver down the spine reaction so prevalent North of the border in this case.
And of course the additional speed presented by such a mighty team of horses, must surely place considerable strain on a standard slo-mo wiper box, well maintained or not.

If the original posters picture is any thing to go by then if it is a split screen or a late series II then the two speed kit i beleive will not fit. Yes agreed the wipers sound as if they need looking at. Why buy glass cleaner it makes the screen ruuber and wiper blades go hard over time, most deffinetly do not use toothpaste on your screen it will leave micro scratchs will could cause impairment of vision in bright light. To clean your screen all you need is malt vinegar on a clean lint free cloth wipe up and down inside and then side to side outside using a clean part of the cloth. Doing it this way you'll see where you haven't cleaned. Then wipe each blade with a clean part of cloth or a new one again using malt vinegar. loverly clean smear free screen.

Looks like an early 1000 with clap hand wipers to me. Its just the light reflecting on the screen that makes it look like a splitscreen...

Which says with it having clap had wipers the motor is behind the driver glove box and not in engine bay. you can't have two speed wipers on this type of wiper system as i believe the motor wont fit in behind the glovebox.

It should have the motor on the inner wing like the later 1000s, but it will be a slightly different motor (smaller body on the gearbox part). Wether the two speed kits will be suitable for one of these cars, I'm not sure. It would physically fit but the angle of sweep will be different to the later tandem wiper cars.
Easier to do as BMC and other suggest and just service the motor, clean the rack and wheelboxes and get it all working properly. they should work pretty well as standard. In my view, and electronic intermittent kit using a two position switch like the headlights would be far more useful than two speeds.