Mid Year Trico Rubber Blade Replacement

[Joel Karam]

Car, 67 Roadster, have the Trico WSW Arms/Blades. Have new replacement rubber blades and could use help with how to feed them onto the metal ribbon. Is there a trick to getting the new ones on? I have been able to slide them through from one end which left me with a section in the middle where two small pins are crimped and the end where I started not in place? I am being careful as I do not want to tear and toss a new blade! Note, the old blades show the indention from the center crimped tabs around the blade retention rib.
Thanks Joel

[Peter L.]

Re: Mid Year Trico Rubber Blade Replacement

Joel - Interesting situation; but to the best of my knowledge TRICO did not offer the rubber part of the refills as a separate piece, but it is possible to remove and insert the rubber insert into the metal vertebra. The TRICO RF-15 refills I'm familiar with came as an assembly that included the rubber insert and the metal vertebra' i.e. backbone. Whatever, you have the rubber insert, so the first thing to do after you remove the old rubber insert is to bend the crimp or locking pins on the center hump of the vertebra so the new rubber insert will go in smoothly. BTW, the crimp not present on all the TRICO 15" vertebra so it's apparent there not necessary to the blades working correctly. Start by threading the rubber insert at one end of the metal vertebra and feed it thru carefully. After you have threaded the rubber insert into the vertebra, you'll have to compress the rubber toward one end and then feed the excess end (about 1/2") into the end of the vertebra and that will lock the rubber insert in place. Then install the Lock-Latch in the one end, folded pieces pointing up and you should be ready to install the refill assembly in the holder. Good luck. Pete

[Joel Karam]

Re: Mid Year Trico Rubber Blade Replacement

Peter, thanks. Your advice is welcome. That was the best I could come up with. I left home this am saying, I hope there is a trick but I don't think so. I will do as you described. I wonder why when I order the blades the vendor asked if I had the metal strips or not? You and others make this hobby very enjoyable and a pleasure. If I come up with any words of wisdom I will post them, like use soap, etc. Thanks Joel 67 L71