Date:         Sun, 19 Aug 2012 14:00:37 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: windshield wiper repair  just musing this time
In-Reply-To:  <20120818193514.EO7YJ.1281283.imail@eastrmwml107>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

> ---- David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

>
> > This is purely a matter of dimensions.  The socket is a solid
> > casting; there's no point where the soft metal stops and hard takes
> > over.  If you have a small enough hole left to marry to the splines
> > without them sticking out too far or the arm bottoming on something,
> > it will work.
> >
> > Were you certain that the splines were shiny-clean?  The old splines
> > from the arm shear off and stay in the grooves between the splines on
> > the shaft, and must be removed.

You know, this seems to be one of those devices where some engineer built something he liked, but isn't that great in the real world.  Why is the wiper assembly not made so that the motor drives a shaft that terminates with a hex fitting, and the wiper arm has a matching opening?  The wiper arm could be secured with a nut just as now, but with a more secure setup.  I know that shoulders can wear off, but this thing is, so far as my feeble analytical skills indicate, ridiculous.  I have had no occasion to attempt to repair a wiper arm/shaft assembly on any other vehicle, so for all I know, all are like this, but good grief.  Just sayin. .......... .

I know, more finely honed technical skills would have made the repair go better, but ........... .

mcneely