| Author | Message | ||
| steve gaines (Kysteve)
Registered Member Username: Kysteve Post Number: 103 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 74.140.165.225 Rating: N/A |
Air??? Electric??? Please help me decide which way is the best way to go and why to go that way. Also can anyone give me an ideal of a brand of motors and the right place to get them. Ill need the whole shebang from switch to wiperblade. Thanks Steve | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 572 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.1.180.218 Rating: N/A |
Steve, There are pros & cons for both systems. The air are already there and usually only need an inexpensive rebuild kit if not working properly. However they are frequently the source of air leaks. The electric wipers have to purchased and installed, but can be purchased with intermittant and more vairiable speed settings. There are several sources of electric wipers including Fred Hobe (north Florida Bus Conversions) or you make your own by buying the motors, arms, etc. from a salvage yard. Jack (Message edited by JackConrad on May 18, 2007) | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Registered Member Username: Prevost82 Post Number: 292 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 208.181.210.47 Rating: N/A |
I put electric in mine... took them out of a OTR truck and made a cross-over linkage, single motor runs both wipers in opposite directions, it's nice to have intermittent wipers ...air sucks in my opinion. | ||
| Gary Pasternak (Cessna5354)
Registered Member Username: Cessna5354 Post Number: 20 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.203 Rating: N/A |
I am on the fence, but on the side of air wipers currently. I may have to rebuild before my next trip, as they were in slow motion at the end of my last trip. I will add some mystery oil to improve. Mike at Luke's gave me that tip, which works. I do believe that the Rain-X also really made a great improvement. I will maintain the air until they cannot be rebuilt. Gary | ||
| steve gaines (Kysteve)
Registered Member Username: Kysteve Post Number: 104 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 74.140.165.225 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Guys for all the input here. Jack, I never even concidered the intermitent part, and that has probably sold me on the electric in itself. Oh, buy the way, I mounted the slides I bought from you yesterday and they work like a charm. I couldnt be any happier with them. Wish I had 2 more pair just like them. I had to order the steel for the slide out frame and will get it the first of the week. Probably get that slideout built next week and will send you a pic then. Thanks Jack And Thanks all for the input....Ky Steve | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1088 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.65.197 Rating: N/A |
Gary, we recently learned that the big difficulty with our air wipers seemed to center around the plastic bodied valve on the motor. They crack. We did find that the valve could be removed from the motor, new o-rings installed and replaced on the motor without taking anything else loose. Also, sometimes the wiper control on the dash does not seal up when it is turned off; replacement o-rings will fix it. The older wiper motors had aluminum bodied valves and were quite a bit stronger. The writeup in the service manual looked a little confusing, but I dismantled one of ours and found it quite simple to service. If they are ever frozen to the windshield, turning them on won't hurt them and I found that the parts are mostly the same, right and left, so we always have spares for the driver's side(the right one). We'll be staying with air. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1009 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.12.88.181 Rating: N/A |
Hello air fans! There are intermittant controls for air wipers too! MCI 102D models had them from the factory as options, so you may enquire to get the parts to retrofit yours. As noted earlier, for those with the chance to stall a wiper, air beats electric hands down for costs in that event. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Registered Member Username: Jayjay Post Number: 371 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 66.136.99.140 Rating: N/A |
Consider the cost/benefit ratio. In the last 7 years of full-timing, I've probably used my wipers (air) a total of 4 hours. So, I guess that with a couple of long lunches, I wouldn't have needed them at all. ...JJ | ||
| Gary Pasternak (Cessna5354)
Registered Member Username: Cessna5354 Post Number: 23 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Tom, I know that I am only delaying the repair, and the next rainy trip I will curse the procrastination. I will be getting the o rings and rebuild them soon. I have a friend who has 27 yrs service maintaining MCI's for NJ Transit if I need help. I will have less pucker factor next cloudy day trip. Thanks for the push, Gary | ||
| steve gaines (Kysteve)
Registered Member Username: Kysteve Post Number: 105 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 74.140.165.225 Rating: N/A |
Guys, if it makes a difference, My wiper arms are missing completely and the pieces the arms attach to have been robbed of their parts. The interior controls are gone, and one of the air lines is missing. So I am starting from scratch anyhow. So what is the better of the two systms to search for, air or electric??? Thanks Steve | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Registered Member Username: Prevost82 Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.19.14.41 Rating: |
electric | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 559 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
If you get a small air line lubricator like the ones they add for an air tool and install in the line to the wipers, it should help; you may want to direct the exhaust to the exterior of the vehicle though, and only allow just a small amount to get to the wiper motors. You'll just need a lubricant that won't hurt the o-rings. | ||
| James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member Username: Jimstacy Post Number: 46 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.40.226.58 Rating: N/A |
Electric | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 158 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.237.9 Rating: N/A |
I agree with Ron AND James...Electric is the only way for RV use. I've replaced my drivers air motor with another air motor. Not a biggie. But, no intermittants, no good speed control. I may have a problem, but when the new motor parks, it slams over to the parked position. That gets on my last nerve. I'm going to change over to electric...soon. If you want intermittant air motors, E-Cam wipers offer this...but they are VERY expensive. My dos centavos, JR | ||
| steve gaines (Kysteve)
Registered Member Username: Kysteve Post Number: 106 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 74.140.165.225 Rating: N/A |
All votes counted and talleed and electric is the winner by far. Thanks for all the input guys..... Steve and Deb in Ky |
