Just trying to educate myself on these little cars. Is there a suitable way to eliminate the vacuum wipers?
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Just trying to educate myself on these little cars. Is there a suitable way to eliminate the vacuum wipers?
VWs don't use vacuum wipers! They are rather feeble electric 2 speed units.
https://www.speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual2/images/cmc66.jpg
https://www.speedsterowners.com/library/cmcmanual2/images/cmc66.jpg
Hahahhaah 2 speedsters I've looked at had vacuum wipers!
I was sitting in an original 1955 Speedster today, And several friends have original Speedsters or coupes from 1954 to 1965. All have electric wipers, as do all Volkswagens and all Speedster replicas that I've seen.
Early Porsches had 6V wipers, later cars were 12V.
What cars did you see with vacuum wipers ( and how did you know they were vacuum operated?)
Early Porsches had 6V wipers, later cars were 12V.
What cars did you see with vacuum wipers ( and how did you know they were vacuum operated?)
Trivia alert:
The windshield wipers on early 50s Citroen 2CV were driven by the speedometer cable. Yeah, I know, but who else did THAT?
The windshield wipers on early 50s Citroen 2CV were driven by the speedometer cable. Yeah, I know, but who else did THAT?
"Hahahhaah 2 speedsters I've looked at had vacuum wipers!" Man, that SUCKS! Faster you go the slower they wipe (not that one would drive a Speedster in the rain though). I'm not sure you could even get enough vacuum from the rear engine to the front of the car to work a '52 Chevy wiper. Rain-X is a great alternative.
My Lotus Elan +2 used vacuum to hold the retracting headlights up.
A girl I used to know used vacuum to . . . oh, my apologies, wrong forum.
Keith - I'm sure you've figured out by now that 'thread drift' is the norm on here. Drift typically starts about the 2nd or 3rd post. Hey we're a bunch of guys, what'd ya expect? Its part of the 'Man Code'.
Posting on here is kinda like shooting the s- - t on the back porch with a bunch of your buds who are intent on busting your balls! Too much fun!
Posting on here is kinda like shooting the s- - t on the back porch with a bunch of your buds who are intent on busting your balls! Too much fun!
Quickest way, remove the wipers all together. The car should leak quite a bit in the rain anyways if it was built correctly.
One I Looked at in Florida last year had Vacuum style, and one of the cars I'm trying to narrow it down to buying (if I can haggle the guy locally just a little more) has them. I know this because I asked what " is that a vacuum resevoir"? And the car in Tennessee , the owner told me is was, and verified that by running the engine... I was less than amused. Now, I can solder, shrink wrap, etc, and am so fortunate that I have mechanical ability. However, caveat, I am not into electrics like I should be. If I can get the car "right" that's going to be replaced! I know they are not rain cars, but come on!!! Vacuum??? Yikes...
Men take threads off road because we are ADD?? what were we just talking about again?
Men take threads off road because we are ADD?? what were we just talking about again?
I bet it was the pressurized VW windshield washer bottle --- which VW chose to power off the spare tire. A faulty valve usually resulted in the spare tire filled with water.
Michael, re the Elan. My friend used to tell me stories about his Elan. Driving up a long steep mountain grade at night one could watch the headlights slowly recede into the hood. I was told that ten years later, he acquired a newer Elan, and it had the same problem!
Keith,
All kidding aside, I doubt very much that any Speedster replica you looked at really has vacuum wipers. I don't doubt that the owners thought that's what they had , but I think they were wrong. They saw something that reminded them of early 1950's or older American cars with vacuum wipers. If you look at the car(s) again, it's easy to check by following the vacuum lines, or turning on the wiper switch with the key turned, but engine not running (I'm trying to remember my old VWs' wiring set-up from 40+ years ago).
All kidding aside, I doubt very much that any Speedster replica you looked at really has vacuum wipers. I don't doubt that the owners thought that's what they had , but I think they were wrong. They saw something that reminded them of early 1950's or older American cars with vacuum wipers. If you look at the car(s) again, it's easy to check by following the vacuum lines, or turning on the wiper switch with the key turned, but engine not running (I'm trying to remember my old VWs' wiring set-up from 40+ years ago).
This will help you Jim:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bug_6971.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bug_6971.jpg
Without a doubt, the car I am working on buying most definately has a vacuum wiper assembly. I thought he was crazy, and pulling the line off the reservoir kills the wipers! How lame is that...?
Someone must have thought it was a good idea to run vacuum wipers. I agree with you that it's a giant step backwards. Still, that's a very minor point when considering a car's overall fitness. You can replace that dinosaur technology with electric wipers fairly easily. If you are electrically-challenged, any decent auto electric shop can do it in a couple of hours.
Oh yeah, that's why I asked about changing!
Move to southern California. You won't even need windshield wipers! Heh, heh.