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MG TD TF 1500 - Wiper Motor Question

My wiper motor on the TD is intermittent. There is good power all the way to the motor. If I turn it on and it doesn't run, I can get it to run by tapping it with a rubber mallet (like the fuel pump!). Runs fine, when I shut it off and then turn on again, it either runs or I have to hit it with the mallet again to get it going. Additionally, it seems to get very warm after running for 10 minutes, I shut it off so as not to let it get any hotter. This is AFTER it was returned from being re-conditioned!
Question: Should they get warm while running? Are they reliable, or is intermittent what I should expect? Do they need to be lubed? If so, what do you use?
Thanks,
Bob Doc

Robert Dougherty

Hi Bob Doc, --- Yes they will run hot, almost to the point that you don't want to put your hand tightly against them. As to the intermittent problem could be the brushes are not moving freely in their guides. However if you have just had it reconditioned, I would return it to the person who did the work. These are strange little critters and remember that the wiring and it's insulation are 50-70 yearts old, so like me they are pretty brittle.
Good luck Finding your problem,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Mine runs very warm...to the point that i turned it off the first time i used it over an hour or so... now i understand that is normal.
Mine runs at the same speed all the time...no stopping and starting.
Took it apart (the motor side) and found tons of green stuff filling the whole space... brushed it off with a soft paint brush and found the tiniest little brush laying out... got it back in place with the "little" spring. Wiped everything down with electrical cleaner.
Before installing i cleaned the centre shaft grooves with a razor blade just like i did with the generator... both work fine now.
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Bob - The "on - off switch" may have enough slopp in itthat it is not pushing the actual contacts together hard enough when it is turned. The next time you try using it, before using the rubber mallet, try pushing on the cover right where the switch shaft goes through. If this will cause the motor to start, then the problem is with the switch. I don't know who you sent it to, but they should make it good for you if you contact them. If not, try Lew Palmer at lpalmer@roundaboutmanor.com

As for the motor getting hot, as the others stated, this is normal. I found the best way to keep the motor cool is to use Rain-X and forget about the wipers. With our flat windscreens, there is enough turbulance, that with Rain-X applied, the wipers are not needed. I rarely turn ours on, and the harder it rains, the better the stuff works. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Gordon, Dave & Bob,
Thanks for the replies! Now I know the heat is normal! I will try the info you gave Dave, I'm sure the motor isn't as it should be after a re-condition....have e-mailed the restorer about the problems, expect him to make good, if not I'll contact Lew...
Robert Dougherty

Dave,
Usually don't even use wipers, just Rain-X. Got cought in a "mother" rain storm that Rain-X couldn't handle, the wipers came in handy! Going up to Woodinville WA for a rally in June, figured WA has some rain on occasion (!) so I should have wipers working just in case!
Robert Dougherty

Bob - Getting caught in a "mother" rain storm calls for a freeway overpass, the wipers on a TD are not going to move fast enough to do any good in that case. In fact anything beyond a slight drizzle can overwhelm our wipers. If you want some real fun, try using them when you have gotten caught in a snow storm - just be prepared to stop every five miles or so to clear the snow off of the wind screen. The constand decreasing arc of the blades would be comical if one weren't trying to see where they are going. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

There are any number of problems with these wipers that can accumulate over the years. These include (in order of commonness) a) lack of lubrication or grease that is well past it's prime. This can lead to a stiff wiper and eventually lead to b) the burning of the shunt winding on the armature. This is a short piece of resistance wire that is overwound on each armature pole and is designed to increase the current flow through the armature - thus power of the wiper. c) over lubrication of the gear box which can easily leak into the electrics screwing up most everything. d) water leaking into the motor eventually resulting in major rust e) breakdown of the insulation on the armature, field coils, primary wires, and the brush holders.

There are absolutely no electrical parts available for these motors anymore. The best that can be done is to be sure the wiper is lubricated with a LIGHT WEIGHT white lithium grease (Lubriplate is what I use.) Keep the water out by sealing around the shaft with the original cork washer. Finally, if all else fails, have the armature and possible field coils stripped and rewound. This is a time consuming project and yes I do it, but it's not cheap. It takes me somewhere around 6 hours to do a proper rewind.

There is an alternative, however. I can source BRAND NEW wiper motors. These are identical in looks to the original, but are of new manufacture. They are not NOS motors, but will pass most any inspection. Due to the weakness of the dollar, they are currently around $300 US.

Email me if you need help.

Cheers,
Lew Palmer
Roundabout Motors
Lew Palmer

The wiper motor has two extra funtions: amusement for those who first see one in operation; and hand warmer.
S.R. Barrow

I got a traffic ticket in 1957 for driving my 1952 MGTD in the rain with the wiper turned off. "But, Officer, I don't need the wipers I use RAIN-X"
He actually called me a 'smart-alec', in todays world I probably could have sued him.
Greg & Grimm
G.J. Cenzer

Maybe its time to make a pneumatic conversion - like The Model T Ford.

If I remember correctly, it takes vacuum off the intake manifold and pipes it to the screen wiper. The moral of this is, don't accelerate in heavy rain!!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

I am sure one of the "patten #'s" under the bonnet of the TF is for "intermitten wipers" ...mine work as designed by the "GOL",(Gawds of Lucas)....at the first sign of rain switching the wipers to "on" does nothing but engage "rain-x readyness"..from there you have a choice of 2 modes of operation... in the "manual mode" (dim) or "passanger side only" operation and (flicker)or off...off being selected after car is parked in a dry garage and is the point where the drivers side wiper now acts as a handy tool to remove water from the bonnet!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Just a bit of grease on the on/off switch...works as advertised now!
Thanks to all for info.
Bob
Robert Dougherty

This thread was discussed between 15/05/2005 and 20/05/2005

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