I’m trying to remove the windshield wiper assembly from my ‘41 Buick so I can remove the dash for paint, plate the wiper towers and replace the wiper motor with one of New Port Engineering’s pieces. Anyone have any insight on how these things come apart? I need to save all the linkage because the new wiper motor uses that. It looks like that linkage is connected with pressed in pins, so not sure how to take that apart without screwing it up. Also it looks like there is a chain driving the actual wiper action, and I can’t figure out how to take that apart to pull the towers out (which might also help me get to the linkage pins). Here’s a crummy photo of the underside of the tower and the chain in question. Any insight would help. Thanks.
remove the bolt. Remove the retainer casting from the bottom. Lift the rest of the assembly out the top. the gasket could be acting like glue, holding it in place, also.
Unless I’m missing something, I think there must be more to it. I already removed that retainer after this pic was taken. The chain runs up into the wiper tower, so while you can lift the assembly up out the top an inch or so it’s still all connected. Can’t figure out how to get that chain unhooked to separate the wiper tower (on the cowl) from the rest of the assembly (under the dash).
it won't fit through the hole? It should.... maybe take a few more pictures of it, as it is now? That would be so helpful.
I think his problem is the linkage is still attached. With the linkage removed it would come out the top. Probably going to have to press or knock out the pin connecting the linkage to the tower.
is the other end of the linkage disconnected? That's the first step...then move stuff so you can swing the linkage down, and let the assembly go out the top.
try and remove it from the end closest to the motor,on my 37 cadillac thats how mine came out,should be a little C clip on it. harvey
As far as I can tell, the linkage is riveted at each point: two rivets at the motor (one each to the left and right wiper linkages), and then one rivet apiece connecting the linkage to the wiper mechanism. I think I’ll need to drill the rivets out at the wiper mechanism first. Here are two photos showing what I’m talking about. The first one just shows the wiper mechanism from up top with a red arrow pointing to where the rivet is, and the second shows the linkage from beneath the dash with the arrow pointing to the rivet itself. Once I get those out I’ll be able to drop the wiper motor down and drill those rivets out to replace the motor (as far as I can tell there is no C-clip like on the ‘37 Cad mentioned). Then I’ll have to figure out this chain-driven mechanism for the wiper itself. It looks like there’s a way to unhook the chain where the yellow arrow is in this photo, but once I do that I have no idea how I’d fish it back through when I’m ready to put it back together. If no one on here knows, I may wait and talk to a resto guy I know…there’s got to be a way to disassemble these things to chrome the towers.
You're missing something, there is a clip or other trick to get it apart. They did not rivet them together when they were in the car. Try to get pictures of both sides of both ends of the linkage. Look for a spring connecting two clips together, at the motor. Remove the clips by stretching the spring a little bit.
Squirrel is right there has to be a clip or a little slider bar on the end by the motor,it may be a spring that hooks into a groove on the shaft,like he said the factory would not rivet it forever. harveyb
Don't drill that rivet on the wiper arm tower! Here's what you've got to do: On the wiper vacuum motor there's a connector that looks like a double ended eyelet electrical crimp connector with a spring between both ends - this needs to be removed by gently prying it off, then the wiper arms will slip off and you can slip the transmission posts out of the car. There's a chain drive in there and it's gonna be a PITA to remove - and hopefully you don't snap the zinc gear end because then it gets real interesting trying to fix that (experienced that fun). I'm not sure how to remove the wiper arm shaft. the little screw on the side of the post is for a squirter. what about smoothing the pits and either painting them a pearl silver or getting them chrome wrapped? Taking these little buggers apart is like pulling a turtle out of it's shell. I don't bother taking the towers apart, I just soak 'em in penetrant and lube it up so it works smooth. These are crazy expensive to replace now. Just my advice from experience.
I found a very nice chrome piece in a salvage yard & the yard helper cut the chain. Trico used to offer a rebuild kit for those but like Rusty says, looks like a real hemorrhoid.
Thanks for all the advice fellas. @squirrel and @37 caddy hit the nail on the head…I was able to get to the backside of the motor and found that dual eyelet/spring clip, so all good there. @Rusty J thanks for the firsthand knowledge. I was on the phone with @Cody Walls earlier trying to figure this out and we were both stumped by that chain (the wipers on the ‘49 Buick he just finished were cable driven). These things just look like a nightmare to disassemble/reassemble. Got to think on what to do with them, but appreciate the advice all around. Thanks guys.
I've got a couple sets of these and busted one trying to take it apart, just not worth it. Best case scenario - paint the towers. Just make sure to lube everything inside - I use lok-shot that I got from a locksmith, love that stuff, comes in a spray can. I'm going to convert my wipers to electric as well, using a new-port wiper motor.
Quick update on some info I’ve learned about restoring/rechroming these wiper towers, for anyone interested… Jon Wright’s CustomChrome Plating in Grafton has done all the other chrome on my car, and in addition to Jon being one of my best friends, he’s also damn knowledgeable about this sort of stuff, so I picked his brain about it. He said they’ve done hundreds of these chain-driven assemblies, and they rechrome them without disassembling them. They’ve got special caps they use to protect the splined wiper pin, and then they fill the internal cavity of the tower (with the mechanism intact) with a silicone plug. Then after plating they heat the plug to remove it. Pretty neat. There’s also another option. I called New Port Engineering direct to order the new wiper motor, and Bob Galbraith (the owner and another wealth of knowledge) told me about a shop that restores those wiper towers. One Source Chevrolet and Chrome is apparently well versed in disassembling and reassembling those towers and the wiper transmissions, so according to Bob what you get back are clean, chromed, and functionally as good as new. I’ll post some pics of the towers after I get them back from CustomChrome Plating.
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