I think I've found the problem with the Z's windhield wiper motor...

Working with my electric r/c race boats, I found out that one was 'slow' because the MAGNETS in the motor had gone bad because of the heat involved over time.

Over time (25+years), and with the motor under a steel panel, catching rays/heat (mine is a Florida car), the old-style magnets in the windshield wiper motors, should have gone bad, or weak, which means that you can put direct power from the battery, and you're still not going to get the right speed or strength.

So the problem then would be to find out if you can replace the magnets, which are probably glued in. These could be chipped out or maybe put in an oven to (burn?) off the glue.

Then you'd need to get or make new magnets. I suppose you could get the materials to cast magnets (like ceramics) but then you still need to zap them to activate the part. That might need special equipment.

Maybe there is somebody in this club that has contacts or experience with magnet manufacture.

Thx

I wonder if the '94 Accord motors discussed on hybridz ever eventuated?

I am going to try to move a ZX wiper drive to my '72, wiring and all-to get more powerful wipers, and the variable timing feature.

Will

Slow wipers are more likely to be caused by the grease in the Wiper Pivots drying out and corrosion setting in and causing a bind in the mechanical part of the system. I just rebuilt my entire Wiper system this past summer using advice posted here from EScanlon and that is exactly what I found. I have lots of pictures and a Tech Article in progress to eventually post.

I agree with Bambikiller on the dried grease and rust , escanlon hit the nail on the head . He and I both live in the northwest and heat is not an issue up hear, not at least like in the sunbelt. And we still have the slow wyper problem . Mine were two speed . Slow and slower. I removed the whole systime and found one of the piviots was loose , the ball socket was shot. The other one was dried grease and the shafts that hold the wyper arms , one was worn badly and the rubber boots were shot. I got a systime form a '78 and used the parts to rebuild my 240 systeme and with new rubber boots , all is like new. I havent reinstalled it yet but I know it will be at least 50% better. My motor works just fine and always has even when the wypers were slow . my 2c

Tomo, your race boat is what my generation called slot cars.In your case the it's a slot car with a battery built in. Sure a SMALL motor. Large electrics in this case, NO. Have you ever had a bad heater fan magnet, alternator magnet, starter magnets? The magnetic field is created not existing.Good line of thought though.

  Daniel said:

.....The magnetic field is created not existing.....

Actually Daniel, without the passive (i.e. NOT generated) magnetic force of the magnets, you couldn't get an electric motor to run.

Enrique

  beandip said:

............ I havent reinstalled it yet but I know it will be at least 50% better. My motor works just fine and always has even when the wypers were slow . my 2c

My rebuilt system is installed and operating. One pivot was so dry of grease and corroded that I could only barely rotate it by hand when disassembled. I cleaned and lubed everything, replaced the felt washers and rubber pivot isolators, and pivot boots, then reinstalled it all and it works great. Wiper motion is faster than has been since I bought the car 6 years ago.

Darn! Enrique, I had hoped the small motor/in this case clause I posted would have excluded me from the basic electrics gotcha I offered. :stupid: You are indeed correct.

  Daniel said:

Darn! Enrique, I had hoped the small motor/in this case clause I posted would have excluded me from the basic electrics gotcha I offered. :stupid: You are indeed correct.

No Worries!

I laughed, and I hope you did too!

Merry Thanks Giving

One other tip for increased WIPER PERFORMANCE is to polish and wax your windscreen although not a permanent fix it certain helps the wipers dissipate the water quicker and makes it easier to see in the rain.

If you wax your car at least once a month like I do then it's alright if not then it's not really a big deal i guess.

Carl I'll look forward to your technical article on the wiper motor rebuild although I'll probably have no need for it for a while since my current motor works quite well.

  Gav240z said:

One other tip for increased WIPER PERFORMANCE is to polish and wax your windscreen although not a permanent fix it certain helps the wipers dissipate the water quicker and makes it easier to see in the rain.

If you wax your car at least once a month like I do then it's alright if not then it's not really a big deal i guess.

Carl I'll look forward to your technical article on the wiper motor rebuild although I'll probably have no need for it for a while since my current motor works quite well.

Gavin, It's not going to be about the motor, rather it's going to be about rebuilding/servicing the mechanical parts (operating rods/joints, wiper pivots, etc.) The motors seem to just keep on ticking.