Grease for plastic gear.

Guys, sorry that I keep bringing this windshield wiper motor thing up, but before I decided to start hitting the wrecking yards, I tore into the wiper motor that I took off my jeep this weekend and found that most of the interior to be intact other than some light rust accumulation.

I got some electrical parts cleaner and started in on it, but have yet to try and see if it will work. I have a couple of problems to deal with first.

The drive arm that comes thru the plate of the gear housing is frozen up. I've got it soaking in Power Blaster and giving it a tap and trying to free it. I'm not sure how it's held into position at that point, whether it be a clip or if the corrosion just has it held into place. If I can get it free and this thing takes a current and works, what grease do I use on the drive gear coming from the electric motor that drives the plastic gear that spins the drive arm?

 

I'm working on a couple myself now and have done a couple. White lithium works great as it doesn't get stiff/thick when cold. Most likely corrosion on the shaft outside the bronze bushing is keeping it stuck. Keep soaking. I've found that a little emery cloth to the smooth part of the shaft to remove the corrosion helps also. Does the park position work on yours? There are some carbon contacts inside that operate park and they get hot and stick in the plastic holder. You'll see what I mean when you get it apart. If these can't move up and down against the printed circuit freely then park won't work but the two speeds will work normally. I'm still looking for a source for the carbon brushes. Haven't looked real hard yet though.... Nickmil

 

I had one corrode on a Honda one time, I did what you did, got it unstuck and loaded it with never seize. Mine was a steel shaft through a bronze? bushing. Worked good for years after that. Yours might not be the same.

 

I can clearly see the bronze bushing, but it's stuck hard. I've got the plate off, but it's still partially connected with the wires going into the electric motor part. I'll check carbon contacts when I get home. Thanks for the heads up. I'm basically just trying to turn the plastic gear with my hands. So far, still soaking it. I'll leave it up to the rod when it wants to let go.

I'll take some pics tonight for future reference. With the lack of availability of these little motors, I image rebuilding these things are a needed option for most folks when the problem arises.

Thanks for the help on the grease.

 

You gotta get the metal cover plate off the shaft first. Underneath will be a board with the printed circuit on the opposite side I was talking about. The wires are attached to that. This board is for the park function. Once the cover is removed, you can carefully remove the board from over the gear and shaft and pull it to one side. Then you can get the gear out. IIRC the gear has the two carbon brushes with kind of a copper spring to hold tension on them. Don't loose the wave spring on the shaft of the gear that controls thrust against the cover! Nickmil

 

I had to do the same thing with the wiper motor on my 72 when I got it 9 years ago. Be careful if you try to remove the bolts that hold the end cover on the motor, it is very easy to break them, also many times the bronz bushing on the end of the armature will be siezed to the shaft and if you try to pry the end cover off it will break the bushing retainer. I had an old GM window motor laying around that was similiar inside that I was able use the retainer and screws from. However you can still buy a new wiper motor from 4 Wheel Drive Hardware and I think Quadratech also for about $95.00. (but what would be the fun in that)

 

Just so I'm not about to destroy this thing. That shaft should just slide out of the cover plate right?

...cause that's what I'm attempting to do! The retainer clip is for the bushing, not the shaft right?

 

There are 2 shafts in the wiper motor that have bushings that support them. One that connects to the wiper linkage which has the plastic gear on it and the other is the armature which is the part that drives the plastic gear. The shaft that comes through the side cover with the plastic gear on it should slide out if you can get it unsiezed (no bushing retainer). Make sure the armature shaft will turn(has a bushing retainer in the motor end cover)
Good luck