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Can someone explain why my 61 has a vacuum line to the windshield wiper motor when it's powered by an electric motor. Also, how is the windshield washer fluid motor activated? Pull, push, twist the W/W knob? My system was somewhat dismantled when I got it, so trying to figure it all out?
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This is a guess...
I know that the change from vacuum to electric happened in the early 60s so I would assume that maybe yours is a hybrid and that basically has a vacuum assist to help the electric motor??
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I've done a little more research. To activate the the wipers, turn knob clockwise. With "standard" wipers, the more you turn the knob clockwise, the faster the wipers move. With the optional electric wipers there are two speeds, slow and fast. To operate the "optional" windshield washer fluid pump, pull the knob out. Who knew electric windshield wiper motors and windshield washer fluid motors were options in 61!
Gonna continue looking into that vacuum line...
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Okay, stuck my head under the dash and from what I can see, a vacuum line goes from the windshield wiper switch(on the dash) to a control module on the windshield wiper motor assembly. The vacuum applied to the control module must control the voltage going to the electrical motor which dictates the speed at which the windshield wiper arms move. So, I must have the "standard" windshield wipers because the switch does not have set positions(low and hi) as does the "optional electric" operated windshield wipers. That being said, the more you turn the windshield wiper knob clockwise on the dash, the vacuum supplied to the control module on the wiper motor assembly varies and as a result, wiper speed is affected.
Now, my next question: To further solve this mystery...when I looked under the dash at the windshield washer control knob, on one side of the knob there is vacuum "in" port and on the opposite side of the knob a vacuum "out" port. The "out" port goes to the wiper motor assembly and the "in" port is the vacuum supply from the engine. Currently, the only vacuum supply I have from the engine goes directly to the heater control switch which operates the recirculating doors for the Selectaire air conditioning. There is no "T" off of this line to supply the windshield wiper knob and no other vacuum line coming in from the engine. So the million dollar question is: where does the vacuum supply for the windshield wiper control knob come from?
Anybody out there got a Selectaire system that could check to see where the vacuum supply for the windshield wiper knob comes from?
Thanks
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Get a vacuum manifold that your manifold vacuum plugs into. Then, you'll have multiple outlets to plug all your vacuum operated systems into. These vacuum manifolds usually mount on the firewall behind the engine. Mine is a vertical tube with ports coming off to the sides and front, and I've seen others that are blocks with a variety of ports coming off the front. You just install rubber caps on the ports you don't need.
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Thanks,
Good suggestion but I actually did consider sharing the vacuum line that is already there. My concern is that there might be an outlet somewhere under the dash or an open vacuum line dedicated for the W/W switch already. I don't want a vacuum leak under the dash somewhere later down the road I will have to try and locate in an already crowded and hard to see area.
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