Moparts Tech Archive

Elec Topics

Can A Two Speed Wiper Motor Be Rebuilt?

Little_John
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 22
Loc: Vancouver Canada

I was wondering if a two speed wiper motor can be rebuilt? If so can I do it myself? Do I need a special kit or parts for a rebuild or can I just take it apart, clean it, regrease the necessary parts and re assemble it?

I have been having intermittent problems with the two speed wiper motor in my 70 Cuda for a few weeks, it only returns to the park position about half the time. I have checked the wiring, cleaned and greased the harness to motor plug and the bulkhead connection and I have cleaned and regreased the switch, the problem has not changed so all that's left is the motor itself.

Can I use another 2 speed motor from another year, how do the motors differ from year to year? I have never taken a two speed motor apart but I have serviced a couple of 3 speed motors.

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4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 99
Loc: Sicamous, BC, Canada

LJ- Last time I had that problem, replacement of that ballast resistor looking thing solved it.

As far as a rebuild goes, go to the source, and ask Jules of J&J Restorations. He oughta be able to tell you.

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471_Magnum
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/19/03
Posts: 43
Loc: Indiana
You can get remanufactured motors from Autozone.

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Little_John
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 22
Loc: Vancouver Canada

471_Magnum, we don't have Autozone up here in Canada.

4speeds4me, Where on EARTH am I suppose to find one of those "ballast looking things"? :-)

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Barnabas_Kriss
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/21/03
Posts: 27
Loc: Maple Ridge, BC, Canada

If you need that ballast resistor on the motor, probably the junkyard would be the easiest source. A lot of other mopars also used a very similar 2-speed wiper motor. (But not completely identical, as the park position is different on each model.) 70-74 Challenger and cuda should have the same 2-speed wiper motors.

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4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 99
Loc: Sicamous, BC, Canada

LJ- Are you implying that I should have a look and see if I have one???

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Jules_the_wiperman
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/19/03
Posts: 28
Loc: Montreal,Quebec,Canada

Sorry guys, but I do not do the 2 speed models. Little John,
you probably have faulty contacts inside the motor itself. The problem is that you have to unrivet the 2 halves of the casing. In the repair kit from mopar they supply small screws and nuts to bolt together the 2 halves once the refurbish is done. I am sorry but I do not carry these kits and they are not to easy to find.

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Little_John
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 22
Loc: Vancouver Canada

Hey Jules thanks a bunch for your help so far, if it's OK I'd like to pick your brain just a little more. I've never had a two speed wiper motor apart before, can you tell me something... Would I NEED one of these kits to service the motor? I was thinking, if I was to drill out the rivets, clean and lubricate the necessary areas inside, then either pop rivet the motor together or use hardware store screws to put it all back together is there a good chance that might work?

You said probably faulty contacts, could I clean em and put it all back together or do you think they would be shot? If they are shot do you think the contacts from a donor two speed motor would serve the purpose?

About 8 years ago I took apart a siezed A body blower motor, cleaned it up, put it back together with little tiny nuts and bolts in place of the rivets and that motor still works like new.

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Ronnman
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 10
Loc: Violet, LA

Little John - As Jules stated, drill out the rivets and separate the halves slowly to expose the plastic reduction gears/park cam switch contacts. Most of the problem is the grease has hardened and contaminated the contacts. Remove the gears noting where they fit and clean the housing, switch contacts and the gears. Dirty or poor conducting contacts are usually the cause for erratic operation of the wiper motor. After cleaning, apply grease to the shafts and gears. I use wheel bearing grease. Lithium (white) grease is probably good as well. Reinstall the gears as removed. Get some rivets from the hardware store I believe 1/8" with the shortest grip depth. In some areas on the wiper housing, you can rivet directly. In other areas, the rivet gun will contact the housing. You will have to fabricate a small "Extender" 3/8" -1/2" long from steel or stainless steel tubing. Insert the "extender" over the rivet and then insert the rivet into the rivet gun. This extender places the rivet gun away from the wiper housing and still allows you to set the rivet. You may have to experiment with your rivet gun to get the extender length that will work with your rivet gun. After riveting, I just place the rivet head on a hard surface and lightly apply a hammer to flatten the rivet. You can take the motor off with the two bolts on the back of the motor. Getting the 3 brushes pulled back to re-install the motor is the most difficult task in reinstalling. I am not familiar with your mechanical abilities, but if you are meticulous when disassembling, you should be able to reassemble with no problem.
Hope this helps some.
Ron

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4speeds4me
Moparts Member
Reged: 01/20/03
Posts: 99
Loc: Sicamous, BC, Canada

LJ? Meticulous? Yeah, that might not be the right word...

He's very careful, to be sure.

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Jules_the_wiperman
Moparts Reader
Reged: 01/19/03
Posts: 28
Loc: Montreal,Quebec,Canada

What Ronnman said is perfect plus here is a small trick to getting those brushes back on the rotor. Prepare 3 pieces of masking tape about 1 inch in length. Push the brushes back in their slots compressing the spring then hold them there with a piece of tape. Do all 3 . Then slip the rotor on and then pull off the tapes. Once you have it all apart check to see if the brushes are fine and the leads are properly connected to the terminals. Take your time and write down your steps for easy re-assembly.

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