FFR Wiper advice - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

mirose · 07-06-2012, 06:18 AM

I installed the FFR wipers and i've tested them maybe 3 times for a total of 2 minutes run time. My P.S. gear already stripped. It can't move the wiper. The D.S. is fine.

I know this has been a problem before for others, and I remember seeing an old post where someone said the finishline gears are better, so I bought two new gear boxes ($50 each!!! OUCH). But I have to get this right for my inspection. So, in addition to swapping out the gear boxes, Does anyone else have any sage advice?

One other tidbit: I didn't use the metal tubing with the FFR kit...I used the plastic tubing suggested by the MKIV build site... That is supposed to help it work BETTER...I am saying this just so anyone trying to help me understands my setup so they can help me if they have some experience or info.

The install went fine and It HAS worked...but all of a sudden the P.S. wiper just lost traction and upon further inspection the strip was at the gear box...

Thanks,

Michael

Michael Everson · 07-06-2012, 09:54 AM

You should be ok once you replace the gear boxes.
Mike

edwardb · 07-06-2012, 09:56 AM

I may have been one of the ones to recommend the Finishline boxes. I have several times. I know, a little pricey... They should bolt right in and work fine. Mine did. I used brake line for the tubing (another forum suggestion) and it has been fine. A standard flare and they locked into the Finishline boxes perfectly. But I understand the plastic is good too. Just make sure the cable is centered in the holder and fully engaged with the gear.

My wipers have only run during inspection, and a couple times I checked to see if they still work. No real world experience yet, and trying to keep it that way.

mirose · 07-07-2012, 10:30 AM

Thx guys. I'll report back after I swap out the boxes.

Someday I Suppose · 07-07-2012, 11:10 AM

Michael,

The biggest thing is to check that gear mesh with the cable before locking it down. The finishline boxes should be better to begin with, but for sure check to see if there is enough room for the cable to slide away from the gear and skip. If it does you can use a vice to draw that keeper down closer to the gear. If you go that route, just be careful to make sure the keeper stays aligned over the gear and stays round so that the cable doesn't pinch inside of it.

-Scott

convincor · 07-07-2012, 11:24 AM

Wiper frustration

Laser Stan · 07-07-2012, 12:59 PM

Michael,

I managed to get the stock FFR (Lucas?) set-up to work, but it took several "fittings". The trick that finally worked was to set up each gear box, individually, with both tubes inserted, and using the extra (cut off) piece of "rack", outside the car, i.e. on the bench. This permits you to see very clearly where any interference, tight spot, loose spot, or other screw-up might be. A screw driver and channel-locks are really all you need to shape and align the clamping ends so that the rack engages the gear with minimal drag. It wouldn't hurt to check out the Finishline gear boxes like this, and don't forget to lube everything.

Anyhow, the process seems to have worked. I had to use the wipers on the way back from my "proof of ownership" inspection at the Ohio State Highway Patrol on the 5th. They did fine. This was my first outing of any consequence; 40 miles of bliss, rain or no rain.

Good luck,
Stan

rich grsc · 07-07-2012, 05:17 PM

Never run them on dry glass.

Mark Reynolds · 07-07-2012, 05:27 PM

Breeze Automotive Windshield Wiper Install - YouTube

Bill Hughes · 07-07-2012, 09:04 PM

I attached the wiper to a 11ga CRS plate wilded to the frame rail that runs along the length of the frame (top passenger) as FAR LEFT as possible to make alignment non critical.

FFR should add this point to the frame.

Joe · 07-08-2012, 01:34 AM

Nice video again Mark.. One quick question. Why do you say they aren't really functional? Wipers are one of those things I have been telling myself that I would eventually install when I take the body off someday. I'll scratch it off my list if they really aren't functional, even when properly installed.

convincor · 07-08-2012, 02:16 AM

Its not that there not functoinal, but with no roof you need them on the inside as well.

edwardb · 07-08-2012, 03:46 AM

I suspect the "not too functional" comment is because the blades are pretty small and the sweep angle of the Lucas setup/design is pretty limited. So the area being cleared is not too much, especially by modern wiper standards. Just part of that '60's charm!

When I was a kid, my grandpa's car had vacuum driven wipers. Talk about not functional. He tried to explain to me why they stopped all the time, which I didn't understand too well at the time.

Terrorist Hunter · 07-08-2012, 07:22 AM

Not to take the thread too far off topic but with some of the comments, is it really worth having the wipers if the state doesn't require it? I'm registered as an antique in FL but stationed in NC. In neither location will I ever have to get an inspection and I expect to maintain my FL plates for at least 10 years or so while I'm still in. If Rain X and a good weather app on the iPhone is a reasonable approach, I'm trying to bring the budget back into perspective.

Hunter 2 · 07-08-2012, 11:36 AM

The wipers are functional. Used mine for at least 6 years in stop and go city traffic and on the highway. They make a difference. When they make Rain-X that you can apply with the flick of a switch I'll get some.

Do the gears come lubricated?

Shawn · 07-08-2012, 02:09 PM

Reading all the posts about the pathetic FFR wipers over the years, I really find it hard to believe that none of the innovators on here has developed a good and widely-used solution, especially for those building more modern/non-traditional versions of the Roadster. I've been dragging my feet on the issue of wipers, waiting for a great solution to surface. I would love to incorporate real (not marine or clip-on) automotive wipers, but the frustration, expense and need to by boxes to replace FFR's defective units that others have experienced has kept me away to this point. I'm not too keen on the clip-on style, but PA requires wipers for inspection, but unless someone can point us to a better solution, I suppose that is what I'll go with.

h82crash · 07-08-2012, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn

Reading all the posts about the pathetic FFR wipers over the years, I really find it hard to believe that none of the innovators on here has developed a good and widely-used solution

I agree, isn't there a simple retro that can be adapted from another vehicle?
The VW bug system is a compact and self-contained unit. I've thought about obtaining one and seeing if it will fit. It probably won't help people with existing holes.

edwardb · 07-08-2012, 08:16 PM

For all the bad press they get (and I've added my share) when properly installed and set up, they really are serviceable for this purpose. My state (MI) requires them for the safety inspection, so I didn't have a choice. But even if I lived where they weren't required I would still install them for resale purposes. Much more difficult to add after the body is installed, so do during the build and be done with it.

mirose · 07-09-2012, 02:19 AM

Well I am waiting for the finishline Gear Boxes...but one thing I noticed is that my motor isn't as stable as people seem to say it must be for it to work well...So the body is on and I came up with this fix...I put a piece of angle and attached it to the footbox roof and had another piece of aluminum attach to the angle in such a way that its parallel to the motor (which is tilted)...and then I put a large hose clamp around it all and its REALLY solid. It took about 45 min and was pretty easy...Way easier than pulling the body for this.

mirose · 07-09-2012, 02:26 AM

I also have a question: A few posts on this thread talk about using grease in the system...No where in the instructions did it discuss this that I remember...are we sure we are supposed to? Will that make the worm-gear mechanism slip MORE?

Curious what people think is best.

rokfor · 07-09-2012, 02:33 AM

I must have gotten lucky. Mine have been run for several hours, and I've been in multiple rainstorms over the past 8 years, and mine still work perfectly.

Rob

Joe · 07-09-2012, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardb

For all the bad press they get (and I've added my share) when properly installed and set up, they really are serviceable for this purpose. My state (MI) requires them for the safety inspection, so I didn't have a choice. But even if I lived where they weren't required I would still install them for resale purposes. Much more difficult to add after the body is installed, so do during the build and be done with it.

Well, I don't need them for inspection and I don't care about resale purposes.. If I did decide to sell my car I have a hard time believing that someone would pass on it because it doesn't have windshield wipers. Prices certainly aren't standardized enough for a person to decide that the car is worth $500 less of whatever price that I decide to sell it for, because of its lack of windshield wipers.

I'll just presume that Mark said they weren't really functional due to being an open top car. Unfortunately I have driven hundreds of miles and hours in the rain and I just need something to wipe the windshield when I'm going less than 35-40 MPH. Anything slower and there isn't enough wind flow to push the rain drops off of the windshield while using Rain-X. I also think they would help in the rare instances when it's pouring very hard and I have to slow down due to the rain.

Thanks for all the opinions.. I'll leave it on my "someday list.."

Someday I Suppose · 07-09-2012, 01:28 PM

I think I put some white lithium grease in the tube on mine and a little on the gear. I agree with Edward though if you get them to work, they seem okay, its just that your looking at a reproduction of a 50 year old design and the tolerences aren't all that great.

As for running them on dry glass, hmmmm mine have only been run on dry glass and they work fine, again it was just a lot of playing to get the cable down close enough so that it can't skip on the gear.

Convincor's post has some great info in it.

Scott