Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 14:39:53 +0100 (MET)
From: Simon Creasey
Subject: Wiper Splines
The passenger side wiper on my 1974 Hillman Imp De-luxe has stopped wiping the top half of the screen. This was traced to a broken wiper spline. I have bought new splines with a cable from a local enthusiast, but the Hayne's manual doesn't say how to change them. Can anyone help?
Also, my Imp is gathering 'Mayonnaise' in the oil filler (there was even some neat water), but not in the sump, and there is no oil in the water (I drained this last week to check). This has appeared since my oil pressure warning light started coming on. The oil is 20W50 and my Imp hasn't lost any oil, or any water. I can't see any antifreeze in the oil filler, but there's so much gunk in there it would be hard to see it anyway. Can anyone suggest what the fault may be?
Thanks
ATOMIC_ROOSTER@HOTMAIL.COM
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 16:25:24 -0500 (EST)
From: Nickcleak
Subject: Re: Wiper Splines
it seems the engine is not getting up to running temperature ( 80°C ) . Maybe by driving for short distances all the time , a long run will get rid of this , it is just normal water condensation in the atmosphere which condenses in the cold engine ... It 'dries up' when everything gets warm ... either that or there IS an internal leak inside the engine ...
The best way is to remove the heater , not too bad a job on a standard Imp ... you may be able to get a 2BA spanner down the defroster vent to release the drive cable from the wheel box , but i still reckon it's best to do the job properly and take down the heater unit ....
Nick ....
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 08:53:25 +0100 (MET)
From: Gary Harding
Subject: RE: Wiper Splines
Congratulations, you have just discovered one of the most difficult jobs to undertake on an Imp. Firstly remove the facia assembly then remove the heater assembly. You will then have the necessary access to replace the wiper wheelbox. If you need more details then let me know.
The 'Mayonnaise' can be caused by nothing more that lots of short journeys that do not allow the car to warm up fully. If however, the engine is frequently run hot then you could have the first symptoms of a blowing head gasket. Are you losing any coolant and yet cannot track where it is going?
Gary
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 11:11:59 +0100 (MET)
From: Bert Clewits
Subject: Re: Wiper Splines
Simon Creasey wrote:
> I have bought new splines with a cable from a local enthusiast,
> but the Hayne's manual doesn't say how to change them. Can anyone help?
They didn't write anything because it's a nasty one because you'll have to remove the dashboard and heater to be able to remove the complete wiper assembly, and change it for another one.
As the spline is damaged anyway you might try drilling out the rivet in the centre and see how it is fixed.
I myself have never done it before I've changed the whole wiper cable assembly, this because of too much slack in the cable itself.
Maybe a cheap fix is to use thin metal foil around the worn splines or teflon used for pipes and linkages and squees the wiper on.
> 'Mayonnaise' in the oil filler
If there is no 'Mayonnaise' in the radiator, and no bubbles when the engine is running and no white fumes from the exhaust when hot, then the headgasket should be ok.
The 'Mayonnaise' could be due to you doing only short trips, so the engine is not warmed up properly and the flame trap filter to the air filter is blocked with 'Mayonnaise' and it will get worse.
I got a pipe from the filler neck running into a bottle and sometimes the bottle is half full of water !
Hope this helps.
Bert Clewits
Let's make Imps better
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 13:55:34 +0100 (MET)
From: Gary and Carol Henderson
Subject: RE: Wiper Splines
Hi Bert, Simon
I am assuming you have just the spline stripped, and the wiper wheel-box is not seized.
The spline is held on to the spindle of the wheel-box by having a shallow counterbore, with the end having been peened over very nicely, perhaps ultrasonically? You cannot pull the spline off a donor item from the outer end; however, if you cut the donor spindle just behind the spline, it should then be possible to push the end of spindle through.
The stripped spline should yield to being split off - if you want to do this on the car I think a nut-splitter would do it. (It's only aluminium.) You then 'only' need to file off the peened 'head' from the spindle, slip the replacement on and find some way to keep it there - I think drill through & roll-pin is the only way on the car; if removed, then you can easily rest the other end of the spindle on an anvil and peen it with a small ball-paned hammer. Hammer gently, otherwise you will swell the whole spindle and split your new spline.
Before this reassembly, take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get some grease into the outer end of the bushing!
There is another way - old UK cars (1950s) used a collet-nut fixing of the wipers directly to the spindles. Easier to adjust position than the modern splined arrangement. As the base of the wiper-arm is only riveted to the blade-carrier, it would be easy to swap that part.
Good luck!
GaryH