Air Actuated Windshield Wipers

Glennman · June 28, 2020, 12:18:03 AM

Anyone ever convert air actuated windshield wipers with electric motors? Seems that the air ones are nothing but trouble, but I have not heard much on an alternative.

richard5933 · June 28, 2020, 04:34:05 AM

There are bolt-on electric motor available for some bus models. Others not so much.

Not sure what you mean by "nothing but trouble".

Install a new pair of control valves, get rebuild kits from Luke for the motors, and once things are given the once over you should be good to go for another few decades.

I just installed new valves and an intermittent controller for my air wipers. They do their thing just the same as electric. No easy electric conversion for me, so it was the only option. Perhaps you have a model where you can do the electric conversion.

chessie4905 · June 28, 2020, 06:41:54 AM

30 to 50 year old air wipers without attention, of course, are troublesome. Rebuild now while parts are available. They worked ok in thousands of coaches over the years. If intent on going to electric, $600 to $1000 is common. If you are a handy guy, you could fab up your own electric with parts from a truck or whatever for a lot less. They don't offer drop in electrics for GMC btw.

Dave5Cs · June 28, 2020, 11:50:44 AM

Autex 950.00 with two motors all wired together and exact replacements. You take the air ones out and the electric fit right in on an MCI. You hook up the two wires to 12 volt stud 55 in your side panel. Test it to make sure. They have two speeds and intermittent and have two new electric controls that fit in the old holes as well. You can use the old arms because the new ones are 150.00 each.
I did it and never looked back.

dtcerrato · June 28, 2020, 04:49:07 PM

Man those prices sound like a rip off but then most modern prices do after retirement... Lol

Glennman · June 28, 2020, 07:37:10 PM

Thanks Dave5c's. That quick bolt on sounds great. I'll look into the rebuild kits from Luke, but if that doesn't work out, at least I know there is an alternative. Glennman.

Jim Blackwood · June 29, 2020, 09:46:23 AM

Certainly beats vacuum wipers like I had on my old Coachman. Now that was a treasure hunt.

Jim

lvmci · June 29, 2020, 03:41:44 PM

ROME trucks parts in Georgia, has new exact air motor replacements, better price than electric, lvmci...

luvrbus · June 29, 2020, 05:16:49 PM

Quote from: lvmci on June 29, 2020, 03:41:44 PM
ROME trucks parts in Georgia, has new exact air motor replacements, better price than electric, lvmci...

www.rometruckparts.com is where I been buying parts for years for air wipers,they will any part for those wipers and tech support

richard5933 · June 30, 2020, 02:32:57 AM

Quote from: Glennman on June 28, 2020, 07:37:10 PM
Thanks Dave5c's. That quick bolt on sounds great. I'll look into the rebuild kits from Luke, but if that doesn't work out, at least I know there is an alternative. Glennman.

Remember that quite a few problems with the wipers are actually from the control valves, so maybe talk through the problems you're having with Luke - he should be able to help you decide if it's the motor or the control valves.

TomC · June 30, 2020, 10:31:47 AM

I took my troublesome air wipers out and installed an Airtex replacement kit. They custom made the wipers for my transit bus. They are straight arm, two motor, with electronic control so the two motors are always in synch. Even though they are relatively slow, they are fast enough in heavy rain, plus having adjustable intermittant is great. One of the best conversion I've done-did take a bit of custom fabrication but not impossible. Good Luck, TomC

chessie4905 · June 30, 2020, 04:38:05 PM

Trouble is, most of the air wipers are severely worn or shot. Most have no clue where to get parts or will venture to rebuild them. They are pretty simple to repair, other than getting the gears in time. Use all the lube from the kit. When that depletes, you start having the issues. 0-60 or 0-90 controls work best. The 4104 had a knob that took 2 full turns for full wipe speed. So you had to crank the knob almost to full to get it to start wiping and immediately quickly turned it down from full speed. They were never rebuilt, btw. I did the ones in the 4905 because I had to remove the complete units when I replaced the full panel below the windshield. You need a spanner to remove the big nuts and they were pretty tight. I used a spanner wrench, pbblaster and a cheater adjustable wrench for extra leverage. At that time, I got the kits from Mohawk bus parts, but I don't know if they fool with them any more. Btw, there are a couple of different size piston bores for those motors, and that valve transmission on the newer ones is nylon or whatever and commonly is cracked where the fittings thread in. Older ones used dicast transmissions. Instructions are in GMC service manual with good info and pictures.

dtcerrato · June 30, 2020, 05:45:59 PM

MarinePartsUnlimited.Com has Trico-Folberth air-pressure wiper motor rebuilding services - with base prices @ $120US to $150US warranted for 1 yr. & longer warranties available. Their website has identifying photos of the various models. May want to give them a try. Our 4104 was upgraded to the FSC,FSV type 35 years ago & have been issue free since.

chessie4905 · July 01, 2020, 04:10:30 AM

Newer GM's didn't use Tricos.

Dave5Cs · July 01, 2020, 08:20:44 PM

Bought the parts new lines went through the air wipers I had and they worked for another year and then they did the same thing and would work 1/2 the time. No problems with the electrics and no leaky control valves etc. Took out the squirter too and put in a truck squirer electric also. 40.00 at a wreaking yard with tank.