Morris Minor Owners Club

Having fitted a complete set of ESM wipers to our 1968 traveller (Maggie) we were no better off. So I got a set of 11in Bosch blades which were a bit better but a bit loose on the arms.

Nearside one apparently flew off this afternoon so now I need another go at getting a wiper blade and arm combination that works half decently and a scratched windscreen to boot

Apart from adjusting arm springs and bending arms is there ANYTHING I can do to get working wipers????

You could use Rain-X to help clear the screen and give the wipers less to do. I love the stuff.

I know it sounds obvious but are the blades sitting evenly on the screen also check that the arms are sitting flat on the screen when the blades are off, and are the arm springs keeping the blades on the screen.

Some blades do it - and some don't - and often there is no visible reason. Obviously the blades need to be the correct fit on the arms. Raising the pressure by bending the arms is NOT the way to do it - just find some blades that work! I found the 'chrome' blades are useless - eventually managed to fit rubber strips from older black blades in to the chrome holders - slightly better, but not marvellous.

Good old Peetee!
You reminded me that I'd got some Rain-X somewhere in the garage whose valued I've always doubted. On your say-so I've put it on - and its really good! I think it also reduces the friction between the blades and screen so thay sweep better when it almost dry.
Anyway, taa! MikeN.

I shall invest in some of this! It's chucking it down here, i just nipped out for a mother's day card and the wipers packed up. No fuses gone, connections seemed ok and a good thump didn't help. Had to drive 7 miles home with no wipers!

Turns out the spindle on the final drive gear to the operating rod had seized! Had to prise it off and generously grease it. Its a good thing i turned the wipers off even though they had stopped moving or id have probably fried the motor!

Try it on the side windows too - I think it's even better there. It's a real help in the dark and rain on a dual carriageway as you get a clear view is of the road behind instead of a load of spots reflecting headlights.

I shall invest in some of this! It's chucking it down here

I've driven at 70 with no wipers - it's that good .

So have I.....but it wasn't raining

What do you mean...driving at 70 or not having the wipers on!

I've driven at 70 with no wipers - it's that good

me too - but without rainex
I picked my mum up from the airport once and it rained on the way back - I had to keep to high speed to allow the wind to clear the screen. It was ok above 60
If it could clear the screen at low speed... it would be much safer than BOTH sets of wipers we had from a well known south Midlands specialist.
The cheap black wipers fell off as they didn't fit the arms properly - suppliers response was it wasn't their fault that we bought their cheap ones.
More expensive stainless (TEX) ones - completely useless, leaving an unwiped section right in the drivers view.

The old TEX ones had been no problem at all but eventually started to split. Shame they don't make them like they used to.

El is planning to fit some refills to the new TEX ones to see if that will work.

nothing is made like it used to be.
not sure why, huge rates and rental in this country is a big item for any buiseness i know.
so have to take short cuts
oh dear, but then a lot of stuff is made in eastern countries any way

Right - I can now vouch for Halfords refills and they work a treat with the stainless steel tex wipers... much better than the piece of completey unwipey rubber you get with them new!
The only mod I made was singeing the ends of the plastic backings to make sure they didnt slide out...but still cut long enough to be flexible. (and the rubber very slightly shorter). 1x22 inches did two with careful cutting.

... can also vouch for 'rainex' as per Peetee.

Hooray! I can see out when its raining!

Thank you - I shall be off to Halfords tomorrow! I have a 'TEX' wiper on the driver's side and it drives me bananas leaving a dirty great streak right in my line of sight. The passenger side works fine but is made by 'RAINBOW' - I don't know if they are still made.

pssst - you get a rainex anti-fog wipe, plus a bottle of rainex glass cleaner *free* with the normal rainex in Halfords at the moment.

It was hidden on a seperate shelf from the other bottles in my Halfords though.