Windshield Wipers

[Barry Rooker]

Envying the cleaner look of the 2007 & newer Newells with their one piece windshields, I looked for ways to clean up the windshield clutter on our 2001 Newell.

First I removed the center guides on the windshield power window shades, slaving them together with a tie wrap. That helped some. It was then that I noticed that the wipers didn't line up on either side of the windshield center piece. Newell couldn't line them up either. That's when we discovered something about the idler bracket/arm beside the powered bracket/arm which the wipers attach to. The idler bracket on both sides was shot, the bearing seized and wallowed out, allowing excessive movement of the arm.

Glad to discover this in Newell's shop & not on the road, I opted to replace the idlers.
Hang on: they're $490.....each + labor. They're out of production & Newell has them fabricated locally. Ouch.

[MarkofSJC]

Yikes!!! That's some expensive "de-cluttering." I'm assuming the issue also affected the operation of the wipers as well (nothing like driving 26 tons down the road ~ blind in a rain storm!).

Mark

[Barry Rooker]

Yes, the operation of the wipers was at risk. Not just a cosmetic thing.

[HoosierDaddy]

Yep....Took mine apart and rebuilt them

[Richard and Rhonda]

Hey !!!!!!

Rebuilt mine for less than five bucks with new bronze bushings.

Look at this post. http://www.newellclassic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1065&highlight=wiper

I found that McMaster Carr stocked metric oilite bushings. The id of the bushing is 12 mm, and the od is 15 mm, length 20 mm. Except I found out that wouldn't work. The 12 mm fits the shaft perfectly, however the hole in the plate is slightly tight for the 15 mm od, and too big for a 14mm od. I press fit one of the new bushings in just fine but if squeezed the id a little and the shaft wouldn't go in. Luckily I had bought a couple of extras. So I took the Dremel to the plate and enlarged the hole just enough to get a good press fit. I put it in with locktite just to make sure it doesn't spin. Oh yeah, and 20 mm is too long, it is really more like 18, but a hand milling machine (hacksaw and file) fixed that. The bushings are less than two bucks each, so other than my labor, it was a pretty easy fix. Like I said earlier, I put on new o rings and retaining clips on the shaft while I had it out. I found them at Home Depot.

[express1]

Rain X or Aqua-Pell also adds to the no need for wipers at times....