Need Your Help with Windshield Wiper Replacement

P

Pat Anderson

New member
Maybe this has been posted before, but can somebody give me the blow by blow of replacing the windshield wiper on the helm side in a CD25? Brand and part numbers of all the necessary parts, where you can buy them, and then (as I am mechanically challenged, as we all know) a step by step description of what I would need to do? Photos of each step would help if these exist anywhere. A fair amount of detail on anything that is less than obvious, special attention to where you can expect to encounter problems because something is hidden, or always is difficult to remove, or always breaks when you take it off, and so forth. Thanks!
 
If you just want to replace the blades, I have a suggestion that worked for me and might work for you. If you want to get the arm off then you need to talk to Capt. Jim.

Measure the blade length and go buy a pair from Costco. The universal ones they sell there actually clip onto the arms on my boat and stay. I spent a lot of time trying to find replacements for mine - including taking the rubber part out of a new blade and putting it into the holder for old blades - but never did find a simple fit. The ones from Costco went on click-click and work great. Plus they are about 1/3 the price of marine store OEMs (claimed) that don't work.
 
Pat,

I have a new 25 and replaced a wiper blade last week. I was cleaning the salt off the windows with a hose and long stranded string-style hand mitt, and it accidentally snagged the blade off and flicked it into the drink. Dang!
Found the exact replacement at West Marine. It was an 11 inch Marinco. About $32.

Don't have access to the boat at the moment to photo, but you should be able to change them with a very small flat blade screwdriver to depress the catch or possibly no tools at all. Pretty easy.

Pete
 
I have a 22 and replaced my wiper blades a few weeks ago. If I remember, they are 11" long. Couldn't find any that size, so I just purchased blade refills at the local Advance Auto Parts store for about $10. Cut them to fit. Can't really explain how, but remember having to push a pin to pull the blade out of it's metal frame. Then worked the new blades in. Replaced both sides and all works great again. I'm guessing you could probably just take your wipers in to an autoparts store, and a knowledgable clerk could help you replace the blades. To get the wipers off the arm, you have to push in on a clip. Again, if you are not mechanically inclined, just get one of your neighbors that you trust are mechanically inclined, to help. It's not too much unlike a car wiper. Colby (P.s. I can tie my shoe lace, but can't explain how to do that to others either! ;-) I will see if I can take some pictures later today and upload that might help.
 
Oh, ok. Ouch, that'll probably cost a bit more. But for others that are reading this thread, and have wondered about just replacing the blades, here is a photo that shows what I was talking about earlier. You may have to zoom in to read my notations and see the arrows.
WiperBlade.jpg
 
Hi Pat,

I have replaced these. It really ISN'T a tough job, IF the wiper assembly will come off the motor shaft... and none of the three that I have replace would do that.

First off, if you have checked BOTH fuses (one for the wiper motor, one for the parking function) and they are good, then you'll need to order an AFI (manufacturer: Marinco) replacement. If I recall, it is a model 1000. You need the right shaft length, so when you pull the motor, measure it: either 1.5" or 2.5"

To remove: there are three set screws under a cap where the wiper assembly attaches to the wiper motor shaft (under the brow of your boat). Use a small alan wrench to remove those set screws. Pull like crazy on the wiper assembly. Odds are pretty good it won't come off. You can buy a battery lug puller, but I couldn't get one to fit. I used a Dremmel and cut the shaft off. Be careful you don't dig into the fiberglass.

With the wiper assembly (the part that wipes the window) off, remove the nut from the bottom of the shaft so you can pull it through from inside the boat. Go back inside the boat, remove the nuts holding the wiper motor in place. (helps if you have someone outside to hold the other end of those screws). This is easy. As you remove the motor assembly, you will see the wire that get the power to it. Make yourself a diagram so you know what wire attaches where on the new motor.

The new motor is probably set for an 80º sweep, parking on the right. You can open the motor up, and find/flip the switch that gives you a 110º sweep if you want.

Reassemble in the reverse order. In all likelihood, you will not get the wiper assembly off the end of the shaft, so you'll probably need a new wiper assembly.

Now, the interesting part: what position you mount the new wiper assembly isn't going to be right when you first put it on. If it is, go buy a lottery ticket. It is a splined shaft, same with the inside of the wiper arm... you will probably have to make small adjustments so the wiper blade wipes in the right place on the window. Trial and error. Mostly error. When everything lines up right (and you will almost certainly have to make adjustments to the arm lengths on the pantographic wiper assembly - more trial and error), tighten the set screws and you are done.

The wiper motors are overpriced - expect to pay $160 to $180. The pantographic wiper assembly will run you $40 to $60. The fun of taking it apart and putting it back together is priceless. :wink:

I'm working from memory here, hope that helps.
Jim

On edit:

I did an internet search for the motor and pantographic wiper arm, and bought them from the lowest price place. I think Jamestown Distributors stock both. I bought the wiper assembly from one place, the motor from another. Maybe the factory would sell you the parts, making your "hunt" easier. Down in the Tropical Tip, there isn't anyone local who sells this stuff.

Before I retired, I had more money than time. Since retiring, I have the time to fix this kinda stuff... not always the patience. Once you have the parts in hand, the job (assuming you can get the wiper assembly off the shaft - and you CAN'T), should take less than an hour.
 
Thanks, all. Maybe not clear, not just blade or wiper arm, the whole dang thing. I checked all the fuses (and in the process at least got my autopilot going again!), but the wiper motor just seems dead. We'll start searching the net for the parts, I guess it is a wiper motor, a pantographic arm (brand? model?) and a blade.
 
My starboard wiper motor went out and I started looking into how to replace it. The motor is an AFI 1000 which apparently is pretty common because I found threads on all kinds of forums that talk about replacing the motor and difficulty in doing so.

So, I ordered a new wiper motor from Ranger Tugs and paid about half of what they were going for elsewhere including Amazon. The motor came this morning and I replaced the faulty one but decided to document my effort with a video. I figured I would either be successful or I'd end up with a good entry for America's Funniest videos.

The video is here https://youtu.be/DepfdbIhluE if you're interested. Turned out to be a pretty simple exercise.
 
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