[Lo Tech] Leaky BAC valve, Stripped wiper arm pivot fixes

[donbryce]

I haven't posted for awhile, so got the urge today. For all of you who just have to keep the ol clunker goin' in -25C winter weather, here's the last 24 hours of joy and sorrow:
Tooling along in thick traffic, I decide to use the windshield washer to get the last weeks mild temp grime off the screen. As you know, the washer triggers the wipers to swipe 3 times - only thing, the drivers side arm was wedged in with ice from earlier slush, now solid ice. Zip zip zip, the little serrations on the pivot post reamed all the mating ones off the aluminum arm! Passenger side works fine, but I was pissed, watching the driver side arm getting reamed, and nothing I could do but sit and look stupid, through a mess of half washed grundge.
So I get home and warn son not to use the wipers. He does some errands, returns, and parks her while I notice steam or smoke coming out of the engine bay. I traced that down to the bottom of the BAC valve. So, into the garage for some heat and analysis....
I took a smear of JB Weld and puttied it in around the wiper arm hole where the serrations use to be, let it set up (used a hair dryer to simulate summer) just enough to be semi-firm (about 5 minutes). Then I applied some grease around the pivot post (which still had some serrations because it's steel, not aluminum) so the arm wouldn't bond to it. I remounted the arm, tightened the nut, and it works the very best!
So, on to the BAC valve, which turned out to have a leak in one of the steel plugs on the underside (not a hose, unfortunately). I used a fine wire wheel to clean it up well, cut a small disc out of aluminum to fit tight in the recess, then a good gob of JB Weld to seal it up. It sets in about 10 minutes in cold air, and voila, no leaks (and no need to source another valve either, thank God, as this is no time of year to be out parts hunting in the junkyard.
I've heard stories of how this stuff is used to repair aluminum crankcases, radiators, water pumps, etc.....its' definately the cat's ass for shadetree repairs. .....Oh yeah, if you have winter thaw/freeze cycles, check the trough at the windshield base for ice buildup pinning the wiper arms down!

[rdg]

yea, JB is some great epoxy, I remember working on my BFV (retired infantry), and tring to replace a road wheel, cranking, cranking, cranking, finally it pops off. we're like, WTF, some mechanic JB Welded the nut on! I used to beat the **** out of that track and the nut stood its ground, that **** (jb weld) does work, took a five foot pole to break it free.

I thought the Pre-92's had the "pop up" snow/ice setting for the wipers too.

[9ine Deuce]

When I had my 929 on the east coast I was also careful with ice/snow that settled at the base of the windshield. I was always paranoid about it doing damage.

Don did you ever figure out how to get the wiper to rest lower like on US 929s ??

JB weld helped my radiator survive a cold east coast winter. I had a 2" crack on the top tank. It never really stuck to well (maybe I should have used a blow dryer) and I had to keep re-applying it. I went through 2 tubes and that extended the life of my radiator for 6 months. What an idiot I was at the time (I thought it was 'expensive') to not replace it with an aluminum rad/eclectric fan.

[DMiester129]

Don did you ever figure out how to get the wiper to rest lower like on US 929s ??

[/b]

The wiper arms are different and that panel thingy under the wiper arms ( I forgot what its called). Take a good look at your wiper arms and you'll see that that it goes up. To get the wipers to fully conceal you just need it to go into a straight line. I think it was some cold weather package cause my new 929 also has heated leather seats and stuff.

[9ine Deuce]

The cold weather package may have been standard on all Canadain HC's. I guess I gotta get some US wipers one day...