Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

[Peter R.]

How does one install and adjust tension on 1954 wiper cables? I'm familiar with the wiper cable/transmission system on my '57 and how you can push down on the wiper transmission shaft from outside the car to allow the cable to be unreeled from the transmission and held in that extended state until you push the end of the transmission again to reel in the cable. But the '54 transmission doesn't appear to work that way. I also see in the '53-55 AIM, pictures of the cabling that show multiple crimped lugs on the cables, giving me the impression that cable tension is adjusted after installation of a multiple-piece cable by simply crimping the lugs with the cable pulled taut. And I see other pictures of '54 cables with no crimp lugs at all. The reason I'm asking is that I had to disconnect the cable on the right side of my car in order to be able to install an original wiper transmission bracket in place of a (longer) homemde bracket that was there before. The cable was too short to allow the transmission to be positioned so that I could put the screws through the bracket into mounting holes in the cowl. Now I have the transmission in the right position, with the correct bracket properly installed, but I don't think I'm not going to be able to install the cable, unless there is a trick to it. I can't find any info in the passenger car shop manual, in the ST-12, or in the forum archives. Need advice.

Thanks,

Pete

[Chris S.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

they work the same way.....
hook the cables up - just like a 57
then push down to pull the cables tight.

is the wiper transmissions in their orig holes? - meaning was the front end replaced?

[John L.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

Not sure if this will be of much help but check out this reference in the service bulletin. I have not gotten to this point in my restoration so hopefully this applies.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/bulletins/54csn0703.htm

see July 54 page 3

John Lanning

[Peter R.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

Thanks John and Chris. However, looks like early '54s like mine (#814) have the '53 design wiper transmission, which has a screw in the drive head that is visible after removing the wiper arm. I learned earlier today that on these you have to loosen carefully (because the screw is only #6 screw size in diameter and is about 6 inches long) the screw about one turn and then push in on the screw from outside the car, which has the same effect of separating the clutches as pushing in on the exterior drive head on the later model transmissions (as used in '57). I didn't realize that the wiper transmisson design was a running change in the '54 model year until reading the service bulletin for which John provided the link, above. So that's one more difference between early and later '54 cars. I think I know what to do now. Thanks for the help.

Pete

P.S., John, depending on how early or late is your '54, you might have either type of transmission. If early, you will need to follow the procedure above; if late, the procedure in the service bulletin will apply.

[John L.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

Appreciate the clearification there Pete..since mine is a very early production (#068) I will need to follow your directions. Did you lube the wiper transmissions in any way and what did you use? White litho grease perhaps?
John

[Peter R.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

No, John, I haven't taken the wiper transmission apart and I might not, but I did get instructions on how to take them apart. If you send me you regular email address by private message, I'll send you the disassembly instructions I've obtained.

Pete

[Troy P.]

Re: Installing and adjusting 1954 wiper cables? Help needed.

Here's the info on adjustment of the older type with the screw.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/bulletins/53csn0301.htm