Using the stock wipers in "manual" mode?.....

[Nickathome]

I installed my original wiper motors back into my truck even though I have no plans to hook them back up. Firstly my fuel pump doesn't have the vacuum line, and second I plan to go electric one day. It occured to me though that I can still use these wipers(at least the driver's side) even though they are not actually hooked up to the vacuum lines. I think one could get away with using the little lever from the inside to work the wipers durin gall but say a torrential downpour. It'd be a primitive form of intermittent wipers but it would work . Its been done with WWII Jeeps, which had manual wipers, I think I could get away with it.

Has anyone used their wipers in the manual mode by simply moving the little lever from the inside?

[refit1701]

I haven't but my plan is to put Rain-X on the outside and a anti-fog compound on the inside.

[rixm37]

It almost never rains out here for more that 15 minutes at a time but ranix works great water just beads up and is gone!!

[Nickathome]

Yeah but doesn't wax on a windshield cause the wipers to skip when you do need to use them? I remember waxing my windshield on my bread and butter vehicles but stopped because of this.

[Lifer]

Yeah but doesn't wax on a windshield cause the wipers to skip when you do need to use them? I remember waxing my windshield on my bread and butter vehicles but stopped because of this.

My wife's best friend put Rain-X on my van windshield once. She swore by it. After the first rain, I coulda killed her! The wipers skipped like crazy. It only took her a couple of minutes to put it on, but it took me several hours to get it off.

I would recommend such products only if you live somewhere where a light drizzle is all you ever get and your wipers don't work!

[N1VSM]

Too much rain-ex will cause wipers to skip. I've found that if you wipe the h*** out of the windshield, it leaves it crystal clear & the water still beads up - no skipping wipers. It takes a few oopsies to get it right.

[refit1701]

I guess technology is not always a good thing!

I usually put Rain-x on the side and rear windows where there are no wipers.

I'll have to get at least one wiper on my truck due to state laws.

[mike_l]

I've manually "assisted" the wipers with the lever a few times. Only one of my wipers has a lever and that one I put on the driver's side. The other lever is broke and I haven't been able to find any loose. They make all those reproduction parts but does anyone make those levers? I don't think there would be a problem with "manually" operating the wiper as long as the vac ports are open. That way, there shouldn't be much resistance to the stroke. But I'd leave the paddles inside so they would stay up in "home" position.

And, I've used RainX with good success. I've not had any wiper problems with any of my vehicles. I have also put it on my M37 though I really couldn't tell if it did much good.

[ELBUFO]

My M-38 Willys had wiper blues induced by the wrong fuel pump.. No vac. assist. what I did was to hook up directly to manifold vac. Works, kinda sort of, as long as you are putting along. At full throttle, manifold vac drops and the wipers slow down or stop This is a pain, but better than the manual alternative. Converted to 12 volt electrics. Had to center-tap off one battery to get 12v, but It works. This is fine for installing other 12v stuff also . Just remember to swap battery positions once in a while due to overcharging the second battery. Enjoy...John

[gwalker]

Yes that handle is spec. for hand operation of the wipers it doesnt hurt them at all most all mil vehicles had some sort of hand lever on the vac type wipers for that purpose

[Nickathome]

I remember when going for a ride in a WWII jeep at the Gilbert Pa show, seeing the manual windshield wipers. I figured the levers on those in an M37 were for either an assist if they got stuck or for outright manual operation if the vacuum system failed, etc.