Wipers don't clear screen?

[1954Etype]

One of my jobs this winter was to sort out the wipers on my OTS. When Pete borrowed the original FHC last year, he said the wipers were really good - they are originals with new rubber blades.

On the OTS, I had fitted the Tex stainless steel replacements from SNG. All look great until you want to use them. It got to the point where I would dread being caught in the rain as the car was nearly undriveable. (Forgot the Rainex).

I knew I had some original Aeramic blades somewhere from my car so I dug them out. It was quite easy to see what the problem was! The original blade (top) is curved but very flexible whereas the Tex is straight and not quite as flexible. I am just off to Halfords to see if I can buy a blade that has the same rubber profile that I can cut to size and replace all the original rubbers on the Aeramics.

[Stuart Exelby]

Angus - be very interested to hear of your success (hopefully!)

[1954Etype]

Just in from garage and can report that the wipers work perfectly (well, using the washers and then clearing the screen does).

The blades I used were from Halfords part no RO5. I think if you can find some original carriers (trico, aeramic etc) then you should be in with a chance!

[cactusman]

Good tip....mine are pretty useless. I will venture to Halfords.. Thanks...

[abowie]

Lol.

[Gfhug]

Angus, that's interesting as I tried fitting a modern blade into an old carrier and found the modern blade was curved more than the springs on the wiper arms (the upgraded arms from SNGB) could manage to flatten onto the windscreen.
Not sure which carrier make, nor can I remember the blade, but it was for a modern car rear window, being the only ones that are any where near as short as the E Type blades are.

Geoff

[cactusman]

Peering at their site halfords charge nine beer tokens (£9) for an R05 pack which seems to contain two blades....so not going to break the bank

[Gfhug]

Peering at their site halfords charge nine beer tokens (£9) for an R05 pack which seems to contain two blades....so not going to break the bank

If it fits an E Type, you watch the price suddenly triple!

[cactusman]

Mums the word If they ask I'll -tell them I have an Austin Allegro

[Navegante]

Have you tried to bend the arms with the concave side toward the screen, this greately increases the pressure of the whipper arms.

[wilkinsi]

Just as a matter of interest Angus are you able to clarify what length the early 3.8 blades were? The advice I had from Tex was they were 11 inches but there seems to be some confusion on the topic between 11 and 12 inch?
Any clarification you can give would be appreciated.
Cheers
Ian Wilkins
Melbourne, Australia

[Heuer]

At launch the blades were 11" but these changed to 12" in about November 1963 in conjunction with modified arms which continued for the rest of S1 production. The blade holders were originally chrome plated and later changed to stainless steel. Pretty much impossible to find chrome holders as a) they rusted and b) the can't really be dismantled to re-chrome. Everything you could possibly want to know about wipers here: viewtopic.php?p=83249#p83249

[1954Etype]

Beat me to it!