Community Forums

CWHTRAINS · 05-07-2008, 04:57 PM

I need to remove the main windshield wiper arm (not the pivot arm) to replace the rubber seal that is splitting apart that surrounds the motor shaft protruding out the front of the motor home. I removed the outside bolt and washer no problem, but I was unable to get the arm to budge off. Isn't it just a slip onto the threads of the motor shaft? How do you get it off? Any tips?

CWHTRAINS · 05-07-2008, 04:57 PM

I need to remove the main windshield wiper arm (not the pivot arm) to replace the rubber seal that is splitting apart that surrounds the motor shaft protruding out the front of the motor home. I removed the outside bolt and washer no problem, but I was unable to get the arm to budge off. Isn't it just a slip onto the threads of the motor shaft? How do you get it off? Any tips?

AFChap · 05-07-2008, 06:43 PM

Clayton

Mine wiper arms just slip off. You might need to relieve the tension of the spring-loaded arm. Mine "flop" out away from the glass and rest pointed at right-angle to the glass. That is the easiest position for slipping them on/off the shaft. What are you planning to replace the rubber seal with?

I can see much of a seal around my wiper arms. I have noticed the rubber splitting/deteriorating at the base of my pivot arms, but haven't yet decided whether ot not to worry about it as on the other side of the fiberblass in the generator area it has a metal plate around it. One thought was to just fill the gap with black silicone caulk.

Joe-K · 05-08-2008, 03:13 AM

The spring tension that maintains the force of the wiper against the glass is what is keeping your wiper stuck to the wiper arm stud. As mentioned, fold your wiper away from the glass as if you were washing the windshield.

Once the wiper is folded away 90 degrees it will go into a neutral spring tension position and stay there. At that point, it will lift right of the wiper shaft.

When I replaced the circular gasket around my wiper arm, I ordered the replacement from Winnebago parts thinking it was some specialty item. It turns out that the replacement was a simple thin black neoprene washer. 2 of them were under a buck, but you might just be able to make something or find it locally to avoid shipping. If you do end up ordering them...get several as they don't last long and it will save the shipping.

Finally just a caution....don't overtighten the acorn nut that holds the wiper arm on the shaft....when the threaded shaft bottoms out in the nut, it can twist off....don't ask how I know that

Winneabago has that item too for a couple dollars.

Wizard · 05-08-2008, 04:02 AM

When I removed mine,after taking the acorn nut off, I had to use a small puller to break them loose. Once they pop, the shaft is cone shaped and they will come right off. It didn't take much pressure. The metal that the shaft was made of had some corrosion on it so I cleaned all that up and lubricated with teflon spray before reassembling. I removed mine to paint the arms as the sun had faded the black paint.

CWHTRAINS · 05-11-2008, 07:41 AM

I was out at Turkey Run Park here in Indiana and after first removing the acorn nut and washer, then bending the wiper arm back the 90 degrees or so like I do when cleaning the windshield, the arm came right off and I was able to put the new rubber gasket on without any difficulty. It had to stretch a bit to go over the cone shaped threads that the wiper arm mounts on, but fit fine. Thanks for the help.