Windshield Wiper Motor

[RogerFrench]

The 2-speed wiper motor of my S3 has been replaced by a single-speed (slow) motor, and the rest of the system isn't in great shape either.

Has anyone in the US done a total wiper assembly replacement, please, and if so what did you use and where did you get it?

[archigator]

Roger,
My motor would stop mid-swipe at the most inopportune time, and I so I once again assumed the Lotus position (on my back, under the dash) and decided to rebuild my motor. When I took it apart, I found that the 40-year-old gear lubricant had congealed into one corner of the housing, so I cleaned it out and re-lubed it. Also the motor brushes were worn, so I replaced them as well. Runs like a champ now. (I don't recall where I purchased the brushes, but I found them on-line, new.)

This site might prove helpful...
http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/sgwrs/view ... f=3&t=2991

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

[RogerFrench]

Thanks Gary, but mine's the wrong motor with the wrong gear. Both my wipers have somwhere around a 90 degree sweep, so the screen is only partly cleared. I need a gear that provides a much longer stroke, and I'd really like a 2-speed motor.
I'm hoping someone knows what motor and/or gear works well in an Elan, or maybe someone has working spares they might like to sell?

Roger,
My motor would stop mid-swipe at the most inopportune time, and I so I once again assumed the Lotus position (on my back, under the dash) and decided to rebuild my motor. When I took it apart, I found that the 40-year-old gear lubricant had congealed into one corner of the housing, so I cleaned it out and re-lubed it. Also the motor brushes were worn, so I replaced them as well. Runs like a champ now. (I don't recall where I purchased the brushes, but I found them on-line, new.)

This site might prove helpful...
http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/sgwrs/view ... f=3&t=2991

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

[Elan45]

Roger,

I've got the 2 spd wiper out of my S3 also and it is probably the same as yours and not the same as the round motor in a Sprint. I had issues with my motor not wanting one of the speeds to perform, so while I had the car apart for the repair from the deer hit, I took it apart, re-lubed the wheel boxes and rack and the gear on the motor. I'm still having trouble getting it to work on one of the speeds, nit sure which it is, since I have nothing to compare and my memory of when it worked right over the last 35 years is very faint. So I just investigated a friend's stash of old square body wiper motors and unfortunately, they all appear to be from various BMC cars, Sprites, MGB etc and are single speed, so back to other investigations. I did also buy at a recent Brit car day a NOS wiper motor, which I think is a 2 spd unit, but rather than having the Elan's flying leads, it has 1/4 inch spade terminals. I haven't tried anything with it yet, but I anticipate making short jumper leads to go from the round bullet connectors to the spade terminals.

I will check the gears between the two motors and change them if I think it necessary.

I still have it on the bench, since the car just made it home from the body shop and needs lots of assembly.

Roger

[RogerFrench]

Just to bump this thread, and explain why prior suggestions, though I understand the good-hearted nature in which they are made, do not really help.

My car does not have its original wiper motor. It has an old, incorrect single-speed motor, which was originally supplied for the 1959-60 Austin Cambridge A55 and contemporary Morris, MG, Wolseley and Riley Farina variants. It is almost useless for the Elan. It wipes arcs that are much too small.

I understand that another wiper motor may be closer to the Elan specification; someone has suggested Triumph Spitfire or GT6.

Does anyone know of a wiper motor that will fit an S3 Elan RHD, and where I might obtain such in the US? Or does anyone have one they don't need and would exchange for $$, please?

[stugilmour]

... I did also buy at a recent Brit car day a NOS wiper motor, which I think is a 2 spd unit, but rather than having the Elan's flying leads, it has 1/4 inch spade terminals. I haven't tried anything with it yet, but I anticipate making short jumper leads to go from the round bullet connectors to the spade terminals....

Roger

Roger, my Plus 2 Two Speed motor had spade connections on it, and they were in need of attention. I got a Lucas standard wiper motor plug from these folks. Item 805 on page 17 I think. Came with the correct spades to plug to the motor. Might make for a cleaner install/repair for you; at least the wires to the motor can't get switched about by accident. I don't recall if mine had bullets in the motor area as well, but I pretty much banished bullets in my re-wire.

http://www.britishwiring.com/CAT00_35.PDF

HTH

[stugilmour]

I understand that another wiper motor may be closer to the Elan specification; someone has suggested Triumph Spitfire or GT6.

Does anyone know of a wiper motor that will fit an S3 Elan RHD, and where I might obtain such in the US? Or does anyone have one they don't need and would exchange for $$, please?

Roger, I believe the motor you are after is called the Lucas 14W two speed unit. I would try one from a GT6 or Spitfire, but I have no particular detailed info on this. I do know the Spit & GT6 had the two speed setup and the wiring they use is functionally compatable with my Plus 2, although they use different wire colours. I don't have my Plus 2 at home right now to check, but I believe the Lucas 14W is what it has in it. Not sure about the two seater, but assuming it is the same. Googling around a bit it looks like the 14W was installed in MG Midget, Spitfire, & GT6 our side of the pond.

I see a word of caution above that the S3 may have the square bodied type. This appears to be a TR4 & TR250 type deal, but not sure about two speed function, etc. as I don't have that particular unit.

I will be at a large British car show next week and can compare to a few Triumphs and MG's if this will help. Figure the Spitfire / GT6 should be pretty close to the Elan sweep, but who knows?

The sweep is of course changed by changing out the gear, which is what you are asking about. I see a link below to a Spitfire gear on eBay. Note that if you go for a re-built unit (I see Cardone does motor re-builds for example our side of the pond), the motor assembly will not typically include the gear. This was the same deal when I got a Cardone re-build for my window lift motor.

HTH, and sorry can`t be more specific. Perhaps someone with your model of Elan can post a pic of the motor and you can match up & check it is the round bodied type or square bodied type you require? In addition, the sweep of the wipers would fix you up, as looks like they range from about 90 to over 140 degrees on eBay.

square type

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Wiper-Mo ... ccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-MIDGE ... ccessories

Round type

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OE-Lucas ... ccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cardone- ... ccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Luca ... ccessories

Gear for round type?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Luca ... ccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Luca ... ccessories

[RogerFrench]

Stu,
Thanks for your reply. I think the original S3 had a square-bodied motor, but I honestly don't care, as it's really not too difficult to fab a mounting for a round-bodied type.
In any case, I think I'll try the following:

http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/product/130_DEGREE_SWEEP_WINDSCREEN__WIPER_KIT_WK130

which seems to me to answer all issues.

[stugilmour]

Sounds good Roger. That kit looks very complete; even a relay wiring diagram! Have posted some stuff below that might help you out.

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/wiper-problem.shtml

[bast0n]

My S3 has a rheostat in the switch that gives variable speed. Is this the correct one? I have never changed it.

D

[Elan45]

Roger French,

An S3 should use the DR3A model (square body) wiper motor. The Lucas number in my Lucas service manual is 75501.

The later round body wiper motor is the model 14W.

The gear and shaft assy for the 75501 is 54707147. I had thought that the manual told me the tooth count on the gear but I don't see it today. I would almost think that if you replaced the gear with the proper one, that could solve your problems, although you would still only have the single speed. I seem to remember that the wheel boxes have different stem lengths and different angles on the sleeves on the outside and I believe also different numbers of teeth on the internal worm wheels. The book lists the wheel boxes as 72776. I have just about any Lucas number you might need for these and many other cars.

I am probably going to have the cover back off my original motor so I can count the number of teeth on the gear if you'd like.

Roger Sieling

[RogerFrench]

Just an update - I bought a kit from cbsonline as I wrote above, and it's excellent. I made up a mount from slotted angle, very easily.
No hestiation in recommending them as a solution.