Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing?

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Fri 17 Dec 2010 18:09
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Reentrant

Is there anything you can put on the linkages of a wiper blade to stop them freezing?

(I mean the six or so separate pivots that connect the arm parts together).

I find that if they freeze in the parked position while driving, the blade doesn't contact the glass across the sweep because the curvature varies. Eventually I can get enough screenwash on them to free up but it wastes a lot of fluid.

I don't think this is a job for WD40. Vaseline maybe?

Edited by Reentrant on 17/12/2010 at 18:11

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Fri 17 Dec 2010 22:11
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Mike H

Vaseline is ideal, smear it on all the joints but make sure you don't get it on the rubber blade or screen. I have used it for years to good effect.

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Sat 18 Dec 2010 18:18
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Victorbox

I think you will find the pivot points of the wiper linkages are greased for life by the manufacturer. They have little to do with how the blade presses onto the glass which is a function of the wiper arm spring and the spring tension in the wiper blade itself.

The blade not contacting the glass over the whole sweep is either caused by a worn out blade not exerting enough pressure onto the screen or the rubber being partially frozen so it's not flexible enough in sub-zero temperatures to fully press onto the glass over it's whole length.

Edited by Victorbox on 18/12/2010 at 18:19

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Sat 18 Dec 2010 20:02
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Mike H
Constant use of washers in sub-zero temperatures will still freeze up the pivot points, which in turn will cause the blade not to contact properly. I agree with the other points you are making Victorbox, but a little vaseline can't do any harm in really cold weather with filthy roads and heavy use of washers.
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Sun 19 Dec 2010 08:42
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Victorbox

MIke, I think your "pivot points" are the spring pivot points of the wiper blade itself whereas I think the original question is about the wiper motor linkage arm pivot points that drive the wiper arms in tandum from the wiper motor. They're usuall hidden away under the plastic scuttle trim so aren't that easy to get at anyway.

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 09:46
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Vitesse6

You could replace the blades with some one piece ones which don't have all the little joints to freeze. I put some on both our cars before the winter and they have been excellent so far.

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 10:51
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Mike H

True, that is the context I was using - the OP did say "Is there anything you can put on the linkages of a wiper blade to stop them freezing?" and was looking for ways to stop the blade becoming rigid, so I answered in that context! However, I agree with you that the bits connecting the motor and arms are hidden and greased for life, but I don't think the OP was talking about that. :-)

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 12:32
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Sofa Spud

Hot water. Defrost the windscreen and side windows with hot water and that will unfreeze the external parts of the wipers as well. The heat shock won't crack the windscreen - best not to use boiling water, though, just hot tap.

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 15:14
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - bathtub tom

And leave a nice sheet of ice for someone to find.

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Sun 19 Dec 2010 17:49
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Reentrant

True, that is the context I was using - the OP did say "Is there anything you can put on the linkages of a wiper blade to stop them freezing?" and was looking for ways to stop the blade becoming rigid, so I answered in that context! However, I agree with you that the bits connecting the motor and arms are hidden and greased for life, but I don't think the OP was talking about that. :-)

Yes that's what I meant - the linkages that are an integral part of the blade these days, and you throw away when replacing.

I do use warm water (on my driveway, not the road!) to defrost the windscreen and blades before starting the journey, and they sweep fine then. But later the pivots can freeze and the rubber strip no longer contacts the windscreen across the sweep. I think I'll try WD40 first to drive out any moisture, then vaseline.

Edited by Reentrant on 19/12/2010 at 17:49

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Mon 20 Dec 2010 12:51
Prevention of wiper blade linkages freezing? - Sofa Spud

QUOTE:..""And leave a nice sheet of ice for someone to find."" Not when there's 6 inches of snow!

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