68 Wiper Vacuum Canister Question

[Kurt B.]

Good evening,
The vacuum canister on the passenger side firewall that opens and closes the override panel for the wipers has a rod that comes out of the center of the canister.
Can that rod be removed form the canister?
I saw a friend's 68 today and his rod broke off 1/8 of an inch outside the canister (in other words there is only 1/8 inch of the rod protruding from the canister) and I thougth that it could be reomved and replaced with another rod or a threaded rod from a hardware store.
Am I correct?
Can the rod be removed from the "coffee can" vacuum canister?
Thank you,
Kurt
#26406

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Wiper Vacuum Canister Question

Kurt-----

I know of no way to remove the rod from either style cannister (without destroying the piece, of course).

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 Wiper Vacuum Canister Question

Kurt this same thing happened to my original owner 68 back in 1973. I went to the dealer and all that was available was the pie pan style and it is still on the car today. I wish I had never thrown away the original vacuum cannister. If I had not thrown it away I would try using JB Weld to attach the rod, and give it plenty of time to cure. I did keep the adjustment/connecting piece to join the two rods together. The new pie pan unit came with one. Did you know that you can use a old style baby bottle nipple to replace the seal the rod goes through? It works, I bought a silicone nipple that has lasted for years and years on my 70. Must use something to give a clean cut on the end of the nipple, a spent weapon bullet might work.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 68 Wiper Vacuum Canister Question

I think reproductions are available today. The 68 rod was small and that was obviously a problem because it was made larger for 69. I have also seen the baby bottle nipple fix as well as some other things. A different twist to being ON the BOTTLE.