Trico wiper arms with Tex blades

[Heuer]

One of the things 'wrong' with my new FHC was the wiper arms and blades. The PO fitted Trico arms and Tex blades but I have to say they are high quality items compared to the standard type. The Trico arms feature an adjustable pressure spring. Two of the arms have a bend in them to get a better angle to the curvature of the screen and the centre one is straight, presumably because it is on the flattest part of the screen. No idea if this was a a period offering kit for the E-Type or a 'composed' trio. The Tex blades are more substantial than the originals and whilst they are not as delicate looking them seem to be far more efficient.




Although the arms will accept the standard blades (and vice versa) I have decided to give them a go with the Tex blades on the OTS because the stock items are totally useless in the rain. Hopefully the design will make for a better clean sweep. The only way you can tell the arms are not standard is the lack of the two rivet heads on the front. The Tex blade supports are fatter. Seems the Trico arms were factory fit on Ford Cortinas, Lotus, Bristol and Daimler.

So if you are not too worried about concours condition but like to use your car in all conditions these are worth considering. I will report back after the next rainstorm!

Update: The Tex blades are also useless! I bought another set of the Lucas style blades from SNGB at ?16 each and they work perfectly. I also tried three original Trico Aeramic blades and they also work perfectly.

[Heuer]

Just happened to be flicking through the Haddock book and I alighted on his comments on wiper arms and blades: "The wiper arms came in two types; with two rivets showing on the outside of the lower part of the arm, and without rivets". Seems like the Trico arms could be correct after all! According to Haddock the wiper blades "as originally fitted to 3.8-liter cars" were Trico 'Aeramic'.

[Malc]

David - do you know where your man got the Trico arms from? A quick search on Google is not helpful and the Trico site seems to show black arms for a 1968 E-type! Do you have a part number? Thanks

[Heuer]

I will need to go through all the invoices and see if there is a contact. However in my research on the Trico arms I found that Steve Hunt (he who restores wiper motors and regularly offers stuff on eBay) - just do a search on eBay for Trico wiper. You may find the ones sold for LHD Mini's are the correct size. Example, though not for the E-Type.: http://tinyurl.com/kzzkbe3 Drop him an email and see if he can put a set together for you with the correct length and cant. Let us know how you get on.

[Malc]

Hi David - unfortunately Steve Hunt could not help with Trico wipers. Have looked on Ebay and indeed via Google but surprisingly with no success. Ironically I can find Tex arms (and blades - so I'll get them) on Ebay, but only in sets of three, and the arms are all cranked whereas there should be two cranked and one straight. I'll try a few local factors and see what they say, otherwise I'll have a chat with SNG Barratt.

[Heuer]

All three of mine are cranked at the ends as per normal on an E-Type it is just that the outer two are also cranked inwards towards the screen about two thirds down their length
On the subject of Trico Aeramic blades I came across these on eBay:


The vendor wanted $400 for the three (new rubbers required) and claimed they were fitted to the outside bonnet lock and all 1961 cars and were essential for a concours entrant. However:

"The Aeramic Wiper Blade (from 1967)

In this design, the primary lever is given a triangular shape (when viewed in cut section) so as to allow it to operate normally even under the strong wind resistance pressures of high speed travel. Torsion springs were added to maintain even pressure over the entire surface of the windshield even when it is strongly curved. Designed to solved the problem of the wiper blade lifting off the windshield at high speeds, this type first appeared in 1967. The first vehicle to mount the Aeramic wiper blade system was a Mazda Luce produced by Toyo Industries in Japan. In addition to the new design the wiper received a new finish as well: the shiny stainless steel levers were given a matte finish to reduce glare."
Source: http://www.ricowiper.com/support.asp

In fact the 'Aeramic' name was registered by Trico England in 1961 and it was used for all their blades, which for the E-Type were similar to SNGB supply today.

[Dave K]

David,

I don't know if mine are standard fit but my car was almost totally unmolested when I got it back in '96 except a hideous red/maroon sparkly paint job with a white plastic hood. I think the PO back in 1980 was a pimp.
Anyway the wiper arms have Trico stamped on them, I still have them on the car. When I change the blades I but a set of original Mini blades from Halfords and fit the rubbers in the Trico arms, they work very well.

Dave

[PeterCrespin]

... I can find Tex arms (and blades - so I'll get them) on Ebay, but only in sets of three, and the arms are all cranked whereas there should be two cranked and one straight.

This is not a problem. You can clamp the short kinked end in a vice and unbend it easily enough. You can also put a kink in a straight arm of course. B

I haven't tried bending an arm all the way from one kink to the opposite kink but it ought to be do-able with care as these are good quality metal, not just any old mild steel. Plus what is the worst that could happen if it fatigues? You'd just take off the broken arm at the roadside to save it scratching the screen, but honestly I suspect there's no real chance of that happening.

Pete

[Dave K]

Pete,

Since my car was originally LHD I bent the arms the opposite way in a vice easily. Not sure if a used a little bit of heat and then polished the tarnish out.

Dave

[Dicko4]

anyone tried flat blades?