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MG TD TF 1500 - TD Wiper motor

The windshield wiper motor on my 1953 TD seems to be frozen.
I cannot move the wiper using the manual switch (shown in the photo). I am quite sure I could do this in the past.
I checked the point where the wires connect and there is 12 volts there.
I took it all apart, but the gears seem to be frozen.

Any suggestions???

Thanks,
Bill Chandler




W Chandler

Did you pull the cover with the sticker off and eyeball the gears? To do that, I think you have to remove the cotter pin and washer/spring. You should be able to pull the gears out of the case and figure out what is frozen. The main spindle should rotate freely when the other gears are out. Do not use carb or brake cleaner on it, as it dissolves the varnish insulation on the windings and armature. Take a couple pictures before you pull anything apart as well. George
George Butz III

Thank you George. I did pull to cover to the gear box, but did not remove the gears. I think that is the next step.
Am I correct that the lever arm shown in my photo should turn freely?
W Chandler

Yes. It should turn freely.
Sanders

Hello Bill. The lever arm should turn freely if pulled out of the drive notch. Usually the grease dries up and locks things. If it is a electrical problem, British auto electric rebuilds them.

Butch
R Taras

Horn & Wiper, Walpole MA, rebuilt and refinished my 51 TD wiper motor.
Excellent work.
hornandwiper@gmail.com
british-car-part-restorsation.com
R W Hinton

I have not taken the gear cover off on my TD, but in the MGB, the grease gets very hard and is a common cause for the motor to freeze.. Other than a bushing, I cant think that the gears would wear out.
Bruce Cunha

Bill, the wiper motor's armature and field coils look in very nice condition, usually they are somewhat burnt. Have you checked that the point on the switch are making good electrical contact? They are under the springy thing shown on the top of the motor in your 1st picture. I would think if the gearing was frozen that the condition of the electrical windings would show some heat damage.
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

Looks like it says Lucas exchange unit on the label, and a 5/86 date code. If that is correct, this may have been one of the last ones they did and is why it looks so pristine. Just make sure you are pulling the shaft out of the lock before you try to rotate it manually! George
George Butz III

I believe I have figured out that the problem is NOT frozen gears, but a problem with the motor. After taking everything apart I was able to get the motor running and even driving the windshield wipers. Then, after about 30 seconds there was a bit of white smoke coming from the unit and it stopped working.
Is it working too hard against resistance or is something wrong with the motor or the brushes?
I have not been able to get a response from "horn and wiper". Are they still in business?
W Chandler

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2020 and 05/09/2020

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