'63 windshield wiper adjustment
The driver-side windshield wiper blade is hitting the left windshield pillar molding trim. It touches the trim in both speeds, all other movements are ok,the wipers don't touch each otherr and ares getting back in their correct starting position. Any help on an "easy" fix of this adjustment is highly appreciated. The blades have the correct length. Thanks Ruud
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Ruud, have you made an adjustment using the fine adjustment screw on the wiper arm?
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Hi Harry,
I have a similar problem in that my driver side blade comes to rest just touching the bottom molding.
Would playing around with the adjustment screw be the fix?
My garage guy told me that my wiper transmission was likely at fault but it doesn't sound like the right call to me.
Very stupid question but what exactly does the adjuster screw do??
Thanks!
SydComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Call me stupid, but where is the adjusting screw? I don't see one on mine. I always thought the only way to position them in relation to each other and the windshield was to pull them the off the spline and turn to another position.
I didn't see anything in the AIM either.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Hi Stu,
I've never tried it but I also thought the same...that you had to remove and adjust to the next position.
The adjusting screw is located on the wiper arm, which I have also never touched. Super lazy I guess.
But I am tired of of seeing my driver side wiper touching the bottom molding!
SydComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Syd, I install the wiper arms so they lay as low as they can on the windshield, LH on top. When you do this they will touch each other when activated. I use the adjustment screw to avoid the touching.
Stu, the adjustment screw is on the up side of the wiper arm facing the windshield.
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
My 63 wiper blade assemblies are original to my car. I also have correct rubber inserts. So, if there is a later mid year assembly or after market unit with adjustments, then I'm not aware of them.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
The adjustment is on the wiper ARM not the blade. The Corvette wiper arm was 'fancy' when compared to passenger car equivalents. It had ONE rivet holding the upper arm to the lower. That allowed for a 'fine tuning' adjustment to be made that shifted the angle of the upper arm vs. the lower arm.
If you were buying ski boots, they'd call this a 'cant' adjustment. Look on the upper side of the lower arm and you should find a SS slot head screw. That's the adjuster.
Pull the arm, and crank the screw through its dynamic range count the number of turns. Now, crank back half-way and the arm is set to its factory default postion (angle of the upper arm relative to the lower arm).
Now install the arm on the car and eyeball how parallel the two blades (RH vs. LH) are in their rest positions. You can put 'em smack dap on the money by cranking on the cant adjustment screws of each arm.
This feature was ALSO used by some European cars like Jaguar, MG and a few of the fancy Italian models. I'll bet that's where Zora came to the conclusion that the feature was needed on Corvette...
Back to Ruud's post... Fine tuning the cant adjustment might provide relief for the case of ONE wiper blade hitting the windshield's outer molding. But, in general that's controlled by having the correct original arms and correct original blades on the car to start with!Comment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
My wiper arms look like that, i.e. they have a screw there, but I would never guess it to be for adjustment. But, as you say, you have to pull the arm off first to adjust and, I suppose, just to see what the mechanism looks like. Lifting it up from the glass and/or trying to feel what it is just isn't telling. Actually, I don't think I'd like a "cant" in it as it would look bent to me. I'll check it out anyway. It is amazing the little features these cars have, specially the 63's, many of which were done away with in subsequent years of C-2's for cost savings.
Thanks for the enlightenment.
Stu FoxComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Thanks Guys,
I'll start by changing the shiny polished wiper arms for the original ones.
I do have the correct wiper-blades and holders. Then everything should be back to its orignal length. (Allthough when I swapped the dull original wiper arms for the shiny "Carlisle" after market ones, I did notice that they all have the same length). At least the original arms have the adjustment screw. In case this does not solve my problem, what is the easiest wasy to approach the linkage form the weiper motor to the (left) arm. Thanks RuudComment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Ruud -
The linkage arms from the motor drive stud to each transmission are fixed-length/non-adjustable. Make sure the motor is parked, and install the arms (with the blades) on the splines as closely as you can to the proper position on the glass, then fine-tune the cant of the blades relative to the arms using the adjustment screws.Comment
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Re: '63 windshield wiper adjustment
Michael;
I have seen many show and judging cars with the driver's side above the passenger's side, the latest was a silver blue 63 SWC at the last winter meet that got a Top Flight that way. I mentioned it to the owner in passing and he told me to "SHHhhh!". Apparently I wasn't the first to notice, but the judges did not. To me it stands out like a sore thumb and is visable from a long distance away.
Stu FoxComment
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