Wiper spindle nut

[Nicola&Tony]

Tried to take the wiper arms off today, one came off no problem but on the other the nut just turns and turns without loosening, so I'm guessing that it's threaded? Any suggestions as to how I can remove it? Access to the nut is difficult because it's set low down in the wiper arm:



I tried to get some leverage under it with a small screwdriver but no joy. Pulling on it with pointy-nose mole grips was no good either, it just turns but won't come off.

Very grateful for any suggestions.

Tony

[Mocki]

leave it where it is untill you have another one...... or you will have no wiper arm that side

i have spare nuts ( he he) on the van im breaking
i also have the wiper spindle mech if its that that is at fault.......

[jamesc76]

Very carfully drill out one side of the nut as close to the thread as you can going very carfull not to touch the thread of the spindel, then it can be opened up with a screw driver to ease it off, done this loads on un-accesable nuts on all sorts of vehicles works grate but go carfully!

[Nicola&Tony]

i also have the wiper spindle mech if its that that is at fault.......

Is it a difficult job to change the spindle mech? How do you get at it, does the radiator have to come out?

Tony

[Nicola&Tony]

Very carfully drill out one side of the nut as close to the thread as you can going very carfull not to touch the thread of the spindel, then it can be opened up with a screw driver to ease it off, done this loads on un-accesable nuts on all sorts of vehicles works grate but go carfully!

Thanks James. I'll give that a go once I've got some spares.

Tony

[Mr Bean]

Tried to take the wiper arms off today, one came off no problem but on the other the nut just turns and turns without loosening, so I'm guessing that it's threaded? Any suggestions as to how I can remove it? Access to the nut is difficult because it's set low down in the wiper arm:

[IMG:410:307]http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa78 ... 10010R.jpg[/img]

I tried to get some leverage under it with a small screwdriver but no joy. Pulling on it with pointy-nose mole grips was no good either, it just turns but won't come off.

Very grateful for any suggestions.

Tony

I do like the drilling option but could try this first:
When you have a new nut and/or are ready to do without the wiper for a while if it all turns to rats. Lever the wiper from underneath using two screwdrivers so as to break the taper joint then carry on applying this leverage while you undo the nut which may now engage wit the undamaged thread or simply wind off. If the thread on the shaft is damaged you may find some good threadby using a couple of washers so as to position the nut higher up the shaft.

[Nicola&Tony]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the help with this. I had the time, weather and energy to tackle this today and James' drilling tip came up trumps! I must confess to being very apprehensive about trying it because me and delicate metalworking operations don't have a good history but the Red Arrows flying by the end of the street this morning (still in formation, from the Great North Run), must've brought me some luck (and the new drill bits probably helped!).

Anyway, I took me time with it and started off from a 2mm drill bit and when I went up to a 3mm bit this happened and then the nut came off easily:



Once the nut and the wiper arm were off I went over the spindle thread with a die (sp?) (M6 x 1.0) and fortunately that seems to have sorted the damaged thread and I had another nut that fitted ok, phew!

With the wiper arm off I was thinking that this was looking like one of the sources for the rain that gets into the cab footwell (which was the reason for removing the wiper in the first place):



But when I removed the plastic bit, the rubber gromit underneath it was in much better condition than the one on the passenger side (but we don't get puddles on that side of the cab, strangely enough):



Anyway, I've now sealed round the gromit (and the plastic shroud that covers it) with black Tiger Seal and the wiper jets, aerial and all round the rubber windscreen seal have been done as well, so I'll be hoping to see smaller puddles in there in future.

Thanks again for the help.

Tony

[Red Westie]

Nice to see you sorted it but the leak is more likely the windscreen rubber, time will tell.
Martin

[Nicola&Tony]

Cheers Martin. I've been all round both edges of the winscreen seal with some special sealant gubbins from Frost Automotive Restoration. It did a good job of sealing round the fridge vent as well . . . the gas bottle cupboard seems to be staying dry recently, despite the weather (fingers still crossed though! )

Tony