Our coach is equipped with air operated windshield wipers and I have wondered about changing them to electric. Has anyone done this conversion?
Nick

wiper blades, linkages and motors

I have not made that conversion Nick but I will say that I have electric units on my coach. One of the motors must have went for the previous owner, they replaced it, and my wipers work completely independantly of eichother like they are posessed. I just thought I would throw this out there for your possible reconsideration. I take it your unit is giving you some grief?

The windshield wipers are completely separate. One control for each side on the dash and everything. The air motor or transmission ( I don't know which is the correct nomenclature) for the drivers side needs to be replaced because it is aluminum and the ports for the air lines are bad. One is cracked and the other is stripped so it has a bad air leak. Can't decide whether to replace it or convert to electric.
Nick

Although it doesn't address your specific question, I'll bet JB Weld would repair your broken and cracked aluminum air ports. You can get it at Lowes and it's a miracle epoxy two-part repair system.
Good luck,

Corey

I agree. Be sure to stop-drill the cracks.

The Stagecoach has had the same problem since the last owner (at least) and the RV dealership I use thinks they can replace the mechanism if they're allowed to pull them out. I'm a bit reluctant since I believe I read (here) they are not available any longer.

I ran into a problem last week during our trip to Durango that makes me want to switch over to electric if possible. When I say if possible, I mean a reasonable price. I'm sure it can be converted but at what cost? At the moment, they work fine and someone has already done the JB Weld trick but either did it wrong or they did not use the "stop-drill" method mentioned by Rusty. If it is too expensive, I'd be happy to have them fixed correctly and stick with the air operated "possessed" set-up.

By the way, this particular problem makes it difficult to steal the coach if they don't know the "airing up procedure" that Nick and I are familiar with.

One other thought; my MCI had air actuated wipers as do many commercial buses. They are very likely to use similar or interchangeable motors. The best part is the availability. I would look in your area for a bus graveyard and go investigating.
Corey

If electrical conversion is your decision, here's one good starting point:

http://www.amequipment.com/index.html

Their downloadable pdf catalog is a virtual encyclopedia of info regarding electrical wiper system specs, dimensions, applications, etc.

For my old P-30, I've found lots of wiper parts compatible with with Barth's OEM system. Go to:

http://www.rustrepair.com/app2/onlinecat.htm?r=ms&p=wi

www.nimcobus.com is a bus dismantler and sells all types of bus parts. So if you know and can find out the mfg and part number of your air motor, Nimco may be able to help you. I had converted a GM4106 bus back in the early 90s and bought a lot from them.

Nick, Anne and I are in Alaska at the present time. The previous owner of my coach had ordered parts from a trucking company in Rome Ga. We are flying home by wednesday and will look up the invoice for the parts. I have a rebuild kit for one side. Or if you will do a search, I think I had posted this info before.

Bill NY, if possible can we have a sticky on certain parts and supply and availability? Your help would be appreciated. sky

We stopped in at Rome Truck Parts in Rome Ga. on the way home in April. Took in the busted wiper and a few minutes later left with 2 new ones complete with blades. $136. complete with tax.
The folks there said we were the first walk-in customers they had seen this year. All there business is mail order. There are no signd to indicate who occupies there building and we had to phone and ask where they were to find the place.
Real great service and they know there stuff.
Don
www.rometruckparts.com

quote:

Originally posted by sky:
Nick, Anne and I are in Alaska at the present time. The previous owner of my coach had ordered parts from a trucking company in Rome Ga. We are flying home by wednesday and will look up the invoice for the parts. I have a rebuild kit for one side. Or if you will do a search, I think I had posted this info before.

Bill NY, if possible can we have a sticky on certain parts and supply and availability? Your help would be appreciated. sky

quote:

Originally posted by sky:
Bill NY, if possible can we have a sticky on certain parts and supply and availability?

If you can direct me to certain posts that you would like to make important then let me know in a PM and I will link it to the picture in our tech talk area or make it a sticky.

Have you tried our image map yet in the "Tech Talk Area"? If you click on the wiper arms, several of these posts about wiper parts would have popped up.

ALUMINUM CAN BE WELDED IN PLACE IF YOU CAN GET AT IT EASILY.JUST MAKE SURE IT IS GROUNDED CORECTLY
LENNY

[quote]To[/quot
I contacted Sprague Devices who made the air wiper systems and they can supply repair parts as well as sell new electric systems that fit. I put new gaskets in the old air systems and they seem to fix the problem. Having a nightmare with the jungle behind the dash I also noticed the air lines can get kinked after years of heat and cold and that affects the wipers considerably. You might check the lines first and if you still don't like the results call Sprague and see what they have.

For what it is worth, the original owner of my Regency had the air wipers switched out for electric units shortly after he bought the coach. They also work independently. Switching to electric pipers should not be a problem.