Wiper Arms and Blades

[Big MAK]

Anyone know of a wiper arm and blade replacement that will work? There isn't enough pressure from the arm to keep the blade firmly on the windshield when conditions are exteremely adverse (when I'm plowing). Snow thaws on the windshield then packs the blade with ice -- doesn't matter if it's a storm blade or not. A wiper blade frozen in an ice cube doesn't make good contact (if it kept good contact it wouldn't happen).

Plowed 24 hrs straight Monday - Tuesday. Cha Ching. More snow coming tonight. Glad I pulled the stage IIIs for plowing. At minus 6 degrees it smoked enough.

 

[Archive]

<font color=blue> Did you get a cable modem?? I noticed your email is @home now which is the same as mine, and I have the Cox cable... ... stop soaking up all my bandwidth!!!!!!!! #ad
hehe

How often do you check your @home account? Can you resend me your @work address I lost my old hard drive and everything on it. I have a question on your plowing #ad


I am at work right now so I won't be home until later.....

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Mark, have you ever checked out the "winter" blades available from Schucks/Checker? The blade assy is enclosed in a rubber material to keep ice from building up and therefore allow the wiper to always make contact with the windshield.

Vaughn

 

[Lil' Dog]

There are auxillary spring kits for the wipers that clip over the wiper arm to apply more force. I found them at NAPA and at truck stops before. Some of the ones at truck stops are for larger wiper arms and may not fit. If I can get a brand name for you I will send it to you. They have them for all cars and trucks.
(edit) I have them on my truck to battle the shudder from the bug deflector and they sure help in the winter ice and slop.
Jeh

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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs. 237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs.
Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

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[This message has been edited by Lil' Dog (edited 12-12-2000). ]

 

[illflem]

Disable the defrost AC as per Fritz and use Prestone deicer washer fuild. Works excellent for me in nasty weather,even freezeing rain.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I recently removed my bug deflector since it was coming loose anyway. My drivers side winter blade still shudders. Have to check for those heavy springs. Good info.

I have always felt a "cold" windshield worked the best in inclimate conditions. Except for freezing rain that sticks to everything.

 

[DHRA]

Ah! Heavier springs, what a joy to hear that! I hoope you can post the name of them. My blades have never touched the windshield above 50 mph. Makes it hard to see on the interstate even in a mild rain. I will keep an eye out for those!

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Eric
GLTDR

 

[Wiredawg]

Instead of diabling the AC on the defrost, I think I'd like to install a separate switch for the AC to give the flexibility to turn AC on/off on defrost and on recirculate (which is Max AC).

Would be really cool if DC would provide separate fan speed, air flow, vent/recirculate and AC switches/levers. I had a '90 Toyota 4X4 that had all these and it was great.

Wiredawg #ad

 

[illflem]

Wiredawg,Fritz's climate selector switch mod allows you to use the AC anytime you want by just turning the fan switch to the AC side,no switch to install and absolutly nothing to buy,takes an hour. When you're done it will be exactly like your Toyota. Click here and read

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 12-12-2000). ]

 

[Mr. C]

Amen to that Wiredawg,I really miss that feature from the "Toy" truck.
illflem,I went to that link and noticed the date on the page was '96,do you know if the climate controls have been changed since then? The mods don't seem to apply to my '99,could be lack of sleep on my part.
It would be nice to have a lighted push button switch next to the climate controls to engage or dis-engage the a/c compressor in any selected position. I would love to BOMB my knobs in this fashion #ad
#ad
any one got any ideas??


[This message has been edited by Mike Coggins (edited 12-13-2000). ]

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by Stack'd-n-Jack'd:
Ah! Heavier springs, what a joy to hear that! I hoope you can post the name of them. My blades have never touched the windshield above 50 mph. Makes it hard to see on the interstate even in a mild rain. I will keep an eye out for those!

I've never had a problem with my OEM wipers at highway speeds. Even the new Anco replacements work pretty darn well. But yes, they *do* freeze up real easily.

One solution is to use 'winter' blades. They work pretty well, except at highway speeds. The right wiper never chattered, only the drivers-side did. I changed the driver's side to a 17" which helped quite a bit, but the blade would still lift off the windshield at 70 or so (depending on the headwind).

Another solution might be to apply some 'resistive' tape to the wiper holders and heat them. I haven't tried this myself as yet, but being down here in ice land (SW VA), I'm sure I'll encounter plenty of the freezing stuff this winter, so I may have some incentive to come up with a workable solution!

Fest3er

 

[DaveO]

Mark,

Maybe just pulling the AC fuse would work? Be easier than taking the dash apart. No need for the AC this time of year around here.

I have noticed the same thing, the windshied never really heats up well on defrost. Maybe blocking off the radiator too... Like VT said.

BTW... How's that baby push SNOW... Were still waitin for some to fall. Haven't put a plow on the Ram yet, still using the Ford for that. Thinking about a 8'2 Fisher/Boss V. What have you got for a setup?

Dave

 

[Big MAK]

I am using the encased winter blades -- they still freeze up due to the ice collecting on them. Not as bad as the open variety getting the ice jamming up all the little arms but still freezes in a block.

DaveO -- I'm running a 9' Western Pro Plow. 800 lbs of sand in the bed (behind the axle) to counter the front end weight (very important). Pushes great.

The Luk Pro Gold clutch held up really well -- didn't have ANY engagement problems at all. That's a first. The OEM and Centerforce both would refuse to engage when they got hot enough plowing. If we get a-lot of these bigger snows this year I'm going to have to get bigger pants with a tailored left leg -- or hop around on my right leg to even out the workout.

 

[jwgary]

I encountered the problem with the wipers freezing last night and this morning. Since this is Texas, I don't own an ice scraper. I tried letting the defroster and the wipers do the deed, but there was a spot (right at eye level of course) that the wiper was frozen and wouldn't do anything. I guess this is the ice of th year and I won't have to worry about it anymore this year. I sure was glad I had the 4WD and LSD and even the ABS once #ad


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B I G O R A N G E AMBER-FIRE (BURNT ORANGE) / BRITE SILVER 2001(. 5), 2500, SLT, Q-CAB 4x4, SWB, AUTO, 3. 55, LSD, TOWING PACKAGE
ADD-ON'S: LINE-X, 1/4" STEEL LONGHORN HITCH COVER, WESTIN NERF BARS, YELLOW-TOP OPTIMAS

 

[Lil' Dog]

Found the maker of the auxillary wiper springs. They are called Sure Wipe and are made in Canada #ad
by Koch Innovations for $9. 99 Cdn at the Canadian Tire store. They have different sizes for all wiper widths domestic and import. Now this presents a problem for most as it may not be distributed south of the 49th. #ad

Hopefully your local parts store will carry them or know how to get them.
I can take a photo of my wiper so you can see the springs installed if you wish.

FWIW, I haven't found that the winter wipers help any more than the regular. They both suck on icy windshields as soon as they get wet and frozen on the edge. The only extra's I add is the prestone de-icer to the fluid.

Also, there is an adapter to have your washer fluid pass through a heat exchanger strapped to your rad hose. Now you get hot fluid on the windshield. I cheaped out and just took a length of fluid hose and wrapped it around my heater lines, then remove the hose in the summer. #ad


Hope this helps guys.

J-eh

 

[illflem]

Sorry to lead anyone astray on Fritz's AC disable in defrost mode. Contacted Dave and he said it will only work for the pre '98 12 valves,though he will be working on a mod for you guys with electric engines.

 

[DHRA]

Neal, I have the ANCOs they don't lift off the window until 60 mph, but they all don't do very well.

 

[6bbl]

Its easy to fix Mark,buy a gas motor plow truck like me. It was really nasty(cold) monday.

 

[PBaker]

Just wandering if you do the fix from Fritz's page for the compressor is there any long term problems from the disconnect.

Paul

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'96 2500 ext. cab, LB, 4x4, 5 speed, 3. 54, TST 280 cam plate, AFC spring kit ,pyro and boost gauges mounted on A-Pillar, tinted windows, 16x8 Eagle alloys series 1219, 285/75R16 Durango A/T's, stainless steel rocker panels and alluminum stirrup steps

 

[illflem]

The only long term problem might be where to spend the money you save on fuel due to increased mpgs when you don't have to run the AC compressor needlessly. As far as pulling fuses or disconnecting the AC clutch,both will work,but sometimes using the AC in defrost is nice for fast defrosting or humid conditions. I personally would rather just turn the fan switch to the AC side than fool around with fuses or connectors,especially when you may only need AC defrost for a few minutes.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)