Re: '54 Convertible Winshield Wiper Pivot Assembly /Windshield Replacement

Posted by HH56 On 2016/8/29 18:45:06

I don't know if the windshield can tip out at the top to lift up and clear the pivots or not. If it cannot and you need to have more clearance from the pivots you can gain more by working under the dash.

You probably still have tension on the cables due to the spring in the tensioner moving the pulleys and keeping the cables taught as you loosened the pivots. The tensioners are spring loaded and it may be necessary to manually move the pulleys to loosen cables and then block the tensioners to keep tension off. The procedure is in the instrument section XIII of SM. If the tensioners are the same spring loaded items used in 55-6 there are some photos of those in section 13 of the 55-6 SM. Note that it is a HEAVY spring and the pulleys can have sharp edges. Use a rag to protect your hand and it may even take something like pliers or channel locks to grab the pulley section to turn it against the spring. A nail works for the locking pin.

Note that when you block the tensioners there will be no tension on the cables so depending on the type of drive connection you have in the center the cables can come off the mechanism. If they are not screwed on, it would be a good idea to tape the cables to the center mechanism or at least identify which cable goes where before removing tension on them.

Also, if you elect not to block the tensioners be aware that loosening the pivots and allowing the cable slack to be taken up may result in tension being too tight when everything is tightened down again. The locking or ratchet portion of the tensioner will not allow it to slip back to normal when you reinstall the pivots so take care cables are not too tight. If they are the wiper drive will be under great stress and something could break.