Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers

[rotorwrench]

The hand wipers were generally only supplied with the light commercial pickups and trucks. Most other cars came with either electric or vacuum wiper motors depending on year of manufacture.

When the on/off valve is placed in the ON function, the vacuum is introduced to the shuttle valve chamber. Two of the ports are already open to allow vacuum to draw the paddle off the park chamber and start the oscillating function. Just before the paddle reaches the opposite side, the shuttle valve rocks over to close off one port and open the opposite port to start the paddle back the other way and so on. When the valve is placed in the OFF position, then the vacuum is stopped to the shuttle chamber and the port is opened to the park chamber which allows the paddle to be drawn back to park position and hopefully seal off on the park seal, that is a part of the paddle, to stop the vacuum draw from the engine.

A lot of folks lube the paddle & chamber with vaseline and then use light oil or even brake fluid. The shaft and oscillating components can then be lubed prior to reassembly when they have it all apart. Some folks use ATF or brake fluid as a lubricant if going the service method route. It's up to the owner on what they want to use but I prefer ATF myself.