30 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

I was thinking of why the holes are not usually welded up during the inevitable scuttle replacement.

I had a look at my S-Max, and the drivers side wiper spindle is inboard a couple of inches from the right hand side of the screen. The wiper blade goes almost to the screen edge when it is vertical. The inner portion of the arm, which fits on the spindle, is set at an angle of about 30 degrees to the main part of the arm, the pivot, which the arm pivots about due to the tension spring, is at right angles to the main part of the arm. That way the arm and blade are always about 2 inches to the right of the spindle with the arm vertical, and when it goes down to the horixontal position, the same offset puts the drivers side blade above the passenger side, which is straight. The angle of travel is maybe 80 to 85 degrees operating, and another 5 degrees into the parked position.

Some old Austin/Morris and other cars had a Lucas wiper motor with increased travel for reverse parking. Basically the crankpin was in an angled slot, instead of being fixed in the main drive gear, so running forwards it was pulled in towards the centre, while running in reverse for parking, it was pulled out to a larger radius. I don't know how my Ford does it, because the workshop manual is a closely guarded secret.

I don't know how any of that information will relate to fitting opposed wipers to a Mini, but I will say that I like the wipers operating that way.