Vacuum vs electric wipers park position

MarkR1951M38 · Post by **MarkR1951M38** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 5:37 pm

Not to hijack the thread, but In the photo below....I notice that some of the windshield wipers are pointed right (passenger side) when parked, but a couple of the jeeps, the driver wiper is pointed left (driver side).

What is the proper direction for the wipers to be pointed at park on the M38 ?

I converted to 12 v and at park, both point to the right (passenger side).

Mike_B · Post by **Mike_B** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:49 pm

Being Vacuum the original wipers didn't have a "park" feature so when turned off they just stopped wherever they were. Then the driver/passenger just moved them to one side or the other...I'm betting there is no right or wrong way to park them...

My .02 cents

Mike B

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 7:55 pm

The thought never occurred to me. With vacuum operated wipers that have manual operating handles as back-up, it kind of depends on when or how you turn them off (by the vacuum valve on the dash or stopping the engine). I guess for inspection you could use the manual handles to park them all on every jeep in a uniform manner but I've never heard of that kind of detail before or seen it in a tech manual. So long as they aren't parked in the center of the windshield I guess you can put them anywhere you want, both left, both right, both inboard, or both outboard?

I've never driven my jeep in the rain to use them, but from what I've heard about these vacuum wipers they're only slightly better than nothing. Mostly ornamental I think.

Plenty of Rain-X on the glass probably a good thing.

I park mine both inboard for looks, but they overlap one on top of the other (about 1/2-inch). I put the drivers blade on top because it usually lifts first when I turn them on.

Make it 4 cents with Mike's comment.

MarkR1951M38 · Post by **MarkR1951M38** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 1:49 pm

Thanks Mike and Ron...beings I converted to 12 v and electric wipers, they both stop pointed right (pass side). I don't plan to drive mine in rain either, but I do have a couple coats of Rain-X on the windshield just in case. I was just wondering since I resurrected my M38, completed two years ago, but never got to the wipers. With this Covid-19 downtime, I was able to go full on and got them operational. Vacuum wipers, like you say, seem logical.

Thanks again!

Post by **wesk** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 11:00 pm

Hijacking posts creates entirely too much confusion so I have split your Wiper comments from the original hood number post.

When you wish to change the course of a subject always start a new subject/posts and if needed you can reference where the impetus for the new post originated.

mdainsd · Post by **mdainsd** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 3:33 am

Some vacuum wipers do park themselves, but they have the valve mounted on the wiper motor. M38s of course have a separate valve that cuts the vacuum off for both motors, so that type just stops where they happen to be.

I adjust the angle of the blade to the arm so I can park them pointing at each other in the center of the windshield. They lay flat and just above the windshield rubber. Neat and tidy.

My Dodge Command Car and White Scout Car have auto park vacuum wipers and they park on the passenger side of the windshield.

MarkR1951M38 · Post by **MarkR1951M38** » Wed Apr 08, 2020 7:43 am

Thanks Wes, I didn't realize it would turn into a full blown thread.

Could you also copy that pic of all the jeeps parked and put it up front? It might be helpful for others since that is what I referenced in the first question.

Mark, you can do that yourself by opening the original post, right click on that photo and select open in another window. Now right click on the photo in the other window and select copy image address and then paste it in between these in the new post on wipers.

Voila!

Thanks Wes...Done! I was trying to use < > </> like normal html web code.