Air to electric wiper motor conversion

[yeggs]

The unending rain continues out here in California.

My Crown originally had air-powered windshield wipers. But they're gone, probably pulled by the school district to fix another bus.

From some basic internet-ing, I see that many people don't like the air wipers, and that there exist conversion kits.... that cost $800. Yeah right Ima pay that.

The rain is keeping me out of the junkyard, where I would normally start something like this. I see many "universal" "truck" "rv" electric wiper motors on that online auction site that starts with "e" and ends with "bay."

Has anyone done already converted a Crown or other flat front bus from air to electric wipers?

None of the listings seem to indicate how to set the "arc" or "sweep". Anyone know? Tips, photos, and experience would be much appreciated!

[Njsurf73]

I don't specifically know about crowns.. but I had an old bronco that I swapped electric boat style wiper motors in place of the vacuum ones... They worked better than the stock ones that would slow down as the engine revved lol

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Iceni John]

If you can find more air wiper motors from another bus or truck, they may be all you'll ever need. They are simple and easily repairable, and when working well are an effective way to move even large wipers in heavy snow, something that some electric wipers can't do too well (or even at all). I overhauled my driver-side Sprague HP200 motor because it was leaking internally - it took more time to clean the outside than to renovate the internals. It needed two large O-rings and some small ones for the reversing valve, and a liberal application of Triflow oil inside it. It now works better than the passenger-side one that I didn't touch, for a few hours of work and a few dollars of O-rings. I also use an inline air lubricator for each motor to introduce a fine mist of oil into them whenever they work: doing that will definitely prolong their life.

The air-powered washer pump was another story. After trying to make it work right I realized it's better to use electric for that task. Some things are good with air, some not so good. I now use two electric pumps, one for the wiper arm nozzles and one for some new nozzles above each windshield, and they quickly drench the entire windshields - bugs don't stay stuck on for long!

John

[Gillig&Crown]

I had a non-functioning Sprague air wiper on the passenger side of my '83 Crown skoolie, due to cracks in the plastic inlet valve assembly. Upon scouring the internet, I found 2 rebuild kits on ebay for an AmTran, on the cheap. ' perfect fit.

For what it is worth, I found that my application (all Crowns?) is a 130º swing. Adapting boneyard replacements may be an option.

Paul

[ennonne]

I know "new" parts and "Skoolie" don't often go together, but these folks might at least be a good resource:

Windshield Wiper Blades and Systems | DC Electric Motors | Wiper Motor Assembly | AM Equipment

[Gillig&Crown]

The folks at rometruckparts.com are specialists, too. BTW, I suspect you cannot "set" the sweep, at least on mine, because "130" is part of my motor's model #.

Paul

[yeggs]

Thanks! The 130 degree number is hugely helpful as I don't have the old ones!

Any change you could take a photo of the wiper motors?

Thanks!

[Gillig&Crown]

I've attempted to upload some images/attachments, courtesy of rometruckparts.com; hopefully it worked.

Mine is the (older) Air Push II, and I hear that the HP-200 is the generally accepted replacement. I do not know how one determines the sweep (degrees) on the HP-200.

I presume your linkage is gone? What year is your Crown?





Paul