The Ford Barn

Greg Jones · 02-09-2025, 04:25 PM

I have a chrome Trico vacuum windshield wiper in my 31 Victoria. Is there general maintenance that a person should do with these vacuum wipers? In other words, lubrication, cleaning, all that sort of thing.

J Franklin · 02-09-2025, 04:50 PM

I have seen a page showing how to lube a wiper motor. It shows sucking lube by moving the arm with the vacuum hose in some light oil. Best way to keep your motor happy is use it at least a few swipes whenever you're driving the car.

nkaminar · 02-09-2025, 06:10 PM

If the vacuum motors sit for a long while they can become gummed up and corroded. The only solution is to take them apart and rebuild them with new gaskets. If they are still working, spray a light oil or 3-in-one oil where the air goes into the motor and do that while they are operating. Do not use WD-40 as it will evaporate over time.

Greg Jones · 02-09-2025, 08:34 PM

Maybe I am dense, but how do you spray a light oil into the unit when it is operating?

Fordestes · 02-09-2025, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Jones

Maybe I am dense, but how do you spray a light oil into the unit when it is operating?

take the hose loose and work the motor by hand while adding the lube.

fourfords · 02-10-2025, 12:36 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Add lube exactly where?

TomInCologne · 02-10-2025, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourfords

Add lube exactly where?

i put a few drops of fine oil into the vacuum tube connector and the manually moved the wiper back and forth...

nkaminar · 02-10-2025, 06:36 AM

I forget where the air inlet is. Here is a good article on how to lubricate the motor using a hose: http://modelabasics.com/wiper.htm.

Paul Shinn may have made a video about the motor.

Any excess oil remaining in the motor will be sucked out by the vacuum when operating.

katy · 02-10-2025, 10:08 AM

Don't need any fancy modern "up to date" windshield wipers. I'll stick with the hand operated one, works every time, variable speed too.

Fullraceflathead · 02-10-2025, 12:41 PM

Variable speed and intermittent as needed!!!

rotorwrench · 02-10-2025, 02:52 PM

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.

BillCNC · 02-12-2025, 03:22 PM

I was told by the person that I bought mine from to smear a light coat of Vaseline on the bottom bowl surface every few years or when needed.

Regards
Bill

mattgic · 03-22-2025, 07:07 AM

My wiper was not working, so I followed the lubrication advice and it is moving now. My question is: Is the wiper suposed to continuously move? I am having to push the rod in to move it one way, and pull to move it back. Is that the way it is designed?

nkaminar · 03-22-2025, 07:51 AM

There is a pneumatic switch that flips back and forth to change the direction of movement. It may just need a little oil. Look at the exploded drawings of the vacuum motor.

old31 · 03-22-2025, 09:56 AM

Yes, the wiper will continuously move.

rotorwrench · 03-22-2025, 10:32 AM

The shuttle valve controls the wiper's constant reversing motions. When the unit is turned off, it should be drawn to the park position.

mass A man · 03-23-2025, 12:12 AM

I use a little smear of NAPA "Sil-Glyde". A silicone grease. Doesn't run, gum or melt.

02-09-2025, 04:25 PM	#1
Greg Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 697	Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers I have a chrome Trico vacuum windshield wiper in my 31 Victoria. Is there general maintenance that a person should do with these vacuum wipers? In other words, lubrication, cleaning, all that sort of thing.

02-09-2025, 04:50 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 6,369	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers I have seen a page showing how to lube a wiper motor. It shows sucking lube by moving the arm with the vacuum hose in some light oil. Best way to keep your motor happy is use it at least a few swipes whenever you're driving the car.

02-09-2025, 06:10 PM	#3
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,842	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers If the vacuum motors sit for a long while they can become gummed up and corroded. The only solution is to take them apart and rebuild them with new gaskets. If they are still working, spray a light oil or 3-in-one oil where the air goes into the motor and do that while they are operating. Do not use WD-40 as it will evaporate over time. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

02-09-2025, 08:34 PM	#4
Greg Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 697	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers Maybe I am dense, but how do you spray a light oil into the unit when it is operating?

02-10-2025, 12:36 AM	#6
fourfords Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Elsinore, CA. Posts: 476	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Add lube exactly where?

02-10-2025, 06:36 AM	#8
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,842	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers I forget where the air inlet is. Here is a good article on how to lubricate the motor using a hose: http://modelabasics.com/wiper.htm. Paul Shinn may have made a video about the motor. Any excess oil remaining in the motor will be sucked out by the vacuum when operating. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 02-10-2025 at 12:17 PM.

02-10-2025, 10:08 AM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,705	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers Don't need any fancy modern "up to date" windshield wipers. I'll stick with the hand operated one, works every time, variable speed too. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

02-10-2025, 12:41 PM	#10
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,684	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers Variable speed and intermittent as needed!!! __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

02-10-2025, 02:52 PM	#11
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,405	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers 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. Last edited by rotorwrench; 02-10-2025 at 02:58 PM.

02-12-2025, 03:22 PM	#12
BillCNC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: SoCal Desert Posts: 842	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers I was told by the person that I bought mine from to smear a light coat of Vaseline on the bottom bowl surface every few years or when needed. Regards Bill

03-22-2025, 07:07 AM	#13
mattgic Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2024 Location: Norther Virginia Posts: 19	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers My wiper was not working, so I followed the lubrication advice and it is moving now. My question is: Is the wiper suposed to continuously move? I am having to push the rod in to move it one way, and pull to move it back. Is that the way it is designed?

03-22-2025, 07:51 AM	#14
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,842	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers There is a pneumatic switch that flips back and forth to change the direction of movement. It may just need a little oil. Look at the exploded drawings of the vacuum motor. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

03-22-2025, 09:56 AM	#15
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,459	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers Yes, the wiper will continuously move.

03-22-2025, 10:32 AM	#16
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,405	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers The shuttle valve controls the wiper's constant reversing motions. When the unit is turned off, it should be drawn to the park position.

03-23-2025, 12:12 AM	#17
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 793	Re: Care and Feeding of Trico Vacuum Wipers I use a little smear of NAPA "Sil-Glyde". A silicone grease. Doesn't run, gum or melt.