My wipers are rubbish.
Discussion
Had my MOT today, so gave the 7 a quick once-over earlier. All seemed to be in order, apart from the wipers.
They are, in a word, useless. At first, they wouldn't even move (although I could see the bodywork flexing where the motor was working underneath!), so I tried taking the arms off and moving them round a bit.
This helped a bit, but just meant that they were sweeping a very small 'V' in the middle of the screen, not all of it.
Bearing in mind that I intend to use "Katie" every day, I'm going to need decent wipers, so any tips on how to improve their performance?
(Not even mentioned on the MOT, by the way.)
They are, in a word, useless. At first, they wouldn't even move (although I could see the bodywork flexing where the motor was working underneath!), so I tried taking the arms off and moving them round a bit.
This helped a bit, but just meant that they were sweeping a very small 'V' in the middle of the screen, not all of it.
Bearing in mind that I intend to use "Katie" every day, I'm going to need decent wipers, so any tips on how to improve their performance?
(Not even mentioned on the MOT, by the way.)
Incorrigible said:
They will have seized through lack of use.
Dismantle, grease, reassemble, will almost certainly cure it
You're probably spot on there. I get the impression that the PO used it as a sunny weekend toy.Dismantle, grease, reassemble, will almost certainly cure it
He probably never used the wipers as long as he had it.
I'll get me grease out
te even when they are 'working'! I find Rain X helps them do their job better.
The only wipers worse than those on my Caterhams are those on my VW Splitscreen....one learns to live with it...or to keep a chamois in the car....er, I'm not too sure how I got here but, hi Baz
summer cars tend to have siezed wipers and horns so a test of one or the other each drive (or week for regular users) will keep both moving and let you know if there're not
Rain-X works a bit (and is worth while it if only for making the screen easier to clean) but doesn't work as well as on more modern sloping screens (I've still got a bottle of Rain-X rejuvenator from years ago, no wonder they stopped selling it)
Wiper wheels boxes are probably at a different angle to screen so if you can reset this angle so they line up they'll work (a bit) better (at lower speeds)
Wiper blades may be same as MG Midgets
summer cars tend to have siezed wipers and horns so a test of one or the other each drive (or week for regular users) will keep both moving and let you know if there're not
Rain-X works a bit (and is worth while it if only for making the screen easier to clean) but doesn't work as well as on more modern sloping screens (I've still got a bottle of Rain-X rejuvenator from years ago, no wonder they stopped selling it)
Wiper wheels boxes are probably at a different angle to screen so if you can reset this angle so they line up they'll work (a bit) better (at lower speeds)
Wiper blades may be same as MG Midgets
I found RainX to be pretty bad really. Unless you keep applying it all the time you end up with a worse situation than before and it is a pain to remove - super strong solvent like gunwash is needed and you don't want to spill that on the car!
Blades are from old Landrovers and need to be cut down.
Best visibility option is aeroscreen and fullface helmet every time.
Blades are from old Landrovers and need to be cut down.
Best visibility option is aeroscreen and fullface helmet every time.
Edited by Yellow 7 on Thursday 22 July 12:22
Yellow 7 - how are you putting the Rain-X on?
I've used it for many years on many different cars never had a problem applying it or ever need to to take it off, I assume it wears out as I do have to reapply it now and again but a bottle over all external glass on two cars lasts a very long time
I do have still a half bottle of the no longer sold rejuvenater that added to the washer bottle on fill ups from years ago
As said it's not at it's best on a 7 type car but still worth putting on just because it makes cleaning the screen easier
To clean the screen I use 95% water, 5% ordinary screen washer and a splash of Rain-X rejuvinater in a s/h spray bottle and cheapest non-absorbent kitchen rolls my wife can find
Never worn a helmet but I did used to Rain-X my goggles
I've used it for many years on many different cars never had a problem applying it or ever need to to take it off, I assume it wears out as I do have to reapply it now and again but a bottle over all external glass on two cars lasts a very long time
I do have still a half bottle of the no longer sold rejuvenater that added to the washer bottle on fill ups from years ago
As said it's not at it's best on a 7 type car but still worth putting on just because it makes cleaning the screen easier
To clean the screen I use 95% water, 5% ordinary screen washer and a splash of Rain-X rejuvinater in a s/h spray bottle and cheapest non-absorbent kitchen rolls my wife can find
Never worn a helmet but I did used to Rain-X my goggles
SB - Nigel said:
I do have still a half bottle of the no longer sold rejuvenater that added to the washer bottle on fill ups from years ago.
Rain X Windscreen WAsher Additive?As you can get universal fitment silicon wipers these days, I wonder if you could cut a pair down to use on the Se7en. I've been amazed at how much more effective they are on my Scooby than the original rubbery ones. They don't have any mechanical sprung arms like the old fashioned type so they ought to be a simple "cut and use".
Gingerbread Man said:
SB - Nigel said:
I do have still a half bottle of the no longer sold rejuvenater that added to the washer bottle on fill ups from years ago.
Rain X Windscreen WAsher Additive?but
that's now well diluted compared to the bottle I've still got
I can't remember how many litres of screen wash that bottle treats but it's not many, mine's a squirt per litre
and are these blades also the type mars means?
Edited by SB - Nigel on Thursday 22 July 20:22
SB - Nigel said:
Gingerbread Man said:
SB - Nigel said:
I do have still a half bottle of the no longer sold rejuvenater that added to the washer bottle on fill ups from years ago.
Rain X Windscreen WAsher Additive?but
that's now well diluted compared to the bottle I've still got
I can't remember how many litres of screen wash that bottle treats but it's not many, mine's a squirt per litre
and are these blades also the type mars means?
Edited by SB - Nigel on Thursday 22 July 20:22
SB - Nigel said:
and are these blades also the type mars means?
Yes but y ou can buy them in Halfords, Sure Parts and Tesco for a fiver. Don't pay "brand" prices. They're all made by the same manufacturer anyway.Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff