Question about slow wipers

[Scott]

Can anyone tell me if the electrical windshield wipers in my 1962 Hawk and 1966 Cruiser tend to start out slow because old, stiff lubricant in the joints of the arms connected to the motor, or is it old grease or something in the motor itself? Were they this way when new? When I first turn on the wipers in my Cruiser (low speed) at about a temperature of 60+ degrees outside, it can take 6 to 8 seconds to make the first sweep one way! That's awfully slow, even just starting out.

[ROADRACELARK]

Very well could be both, Scott. The motor and gear box most likely still has the grease from 1963 in there, just not lubing. It can be disassembled, cleaned and fresh, modern grease installed. While you're there,pop the ends off of the motor and check for the same problem on the bearings. Clean the brushes and armature also. The wiper pivots are harder to lube. Remove the wiper blade/arm assemblies, then remove the cowl vent screen (between the back of the hood and bottom ao the windshield, three or four screws at toe front edge) at this point you can reach and disconnect the wiper linkage and remove each pivot. Turn them upside down to get oil where it needs to go. One thing that areally helps on older cars is RainEx. It makes the water bead up and acts as a lubericant for the wiper blades. OBTW, New wiper blades are a help too. Hope this helps.
Dan

[Scott]

Can the motor be taken off the cowl wall and disonnected from the arms that way, or do you have to disconnect the arms from the area under the screen first before trying to get the motor off the cowl?

[Roscomacaw]

Ya gotta take the arms off first.[xx(]

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1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President 2-dr
1955 President State
1951 Champion Biz cpe
1963 Daytona project FS

[JDP]

N8 has found that taking the motor apart, cleaning out the old lube and regreasing usually does the trick.

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[Scott]

Thanks Mr Biggs. Knowing the way engineers love to plan out cars I figured the arms would have to come out first. The other way would have just been too convenient.

I'll also plan on taking JDP's and Nate's approach (I can only guess how many times John has dealt with this over the years).