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Old 11-18-2023, 02:03 AM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.3
State: Iowa
Posts: 1,219
THOR #28145
Windshield washer mod for better windshield cleaning

How many class A motorhome owners have windshield sprayers that do not get enough washer fluid up to the top of the windshield wiper sweep? Offhand I would say most class A motorhomes with wet wiper arms have this problem. The is simply because the emitters are located near the bottom 1/3 of the wiper blades.

I have come up with a solution for this problem. I simply added an 8" x 1/2" x 1/8" aluminum stock "extensions" to provide a place to attach the washer emitters closer to the top end of the wiper blades. You will need the following.
  1. Enough 1/2" x 1/8" aluminum bar stock to make two 8" extensions.
  2. 4 # 4/40 x 1/2 machine screws
  3. 4 # 4/40 Nuts
  4. 8 # 4 Washers
  5. I used Brass for these, if you can find stainless steel that would be better.
  6. Loctite blue to secure the nuts.
  7. 1/8" vacuum hose: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
  8. Zip ties https://www.amazon.com/Gardner-46-31...31&sr=1-3&th=1
  9. Your choice of black paint I used Rust-Oleum.
  10. 1/8" drill bit
  11. electric drill.
  12. 12" scrap of #12 or 14 solid core electric wire with the insulation still on.
After cutting the aluminum stock to length I drill 2 1/8" holes about 1/2" apart near one end. I made two one for each wiper arm.

After drilling the holes, I clamp a vice grip to one end and make a slight dog leg bend one the end with the holes. As shown in the first photo below.

Then I mark and drill a second 1/8" hole about 1/2", the same spacing used for on the extensions, away from the hole already in the wiper arm. Put a plywood scrap of at least 6" x 6" between the windshield and the wiper to protect the windshield in case the drill slips. It also helps to put a little lube on the drill bit to help cut through wiper arm. I used WD40.

I then sand and prep the aluminum bar for paint.

After the Paint is dry, I used clear Gorilla Glue to secure the emitter(s) at the end opposite the end with the holes It is easier if you attach the new hose to the emitter first.

Once the Glue is dry use the machine screws, nuts and washers to attach the extensions to the wiper arm using the Loctite the secure the nuts.

Then I route the new hose to the washer output point near the wiper arm pivot. The tricky part of this is getting the through the center of the wiper arm spring. A bit of 12 or 14 gauge solid residential electrical wire can be used to fish the tub through spring. Just push the wire up through the spring and into the end of the hose and tape the hose to the wire so it can be pulled through.

Cut the hose to connect to the washer output port making sure you allow enough slack for the wiper arm movement.

Finally, I secure the hose to the wiper arms using the Zip ties.
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Old 11-18-2023, 02:49 AM   #2
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Model: vegas 24.1
State: Nevada
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THOR #17346
how much will you sell me a kit for?
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Old 11-20-2023, 03:21 PM   #3
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Model: ACE 30.3
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THOR #28145
Quote:
Originally Posted by galOnTheGo View Post
how much will you sell me a kit for?
I redesigned the extension modification so that it is no longer necessary to drill a hole in the wiper arm, at least for my unit. I tried to send a private message with a photo attachment, but I do not think the photo went through.

I need to verify that your wiper arms are similar to the ones on my RV
  1. Are they about 1/2" wide (12mm)?
  2. Do they have a hole similar to the photo below?
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Old 11-26-2023, 11:59 PM   #4
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Model: Hurican 34P
State: Maryland
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THOR #17588
Great Idea... a few years back I was looking at the same problem. And yes they are horrible. I was over thinking this..

I have scrap aluminum in the garage. Much easier than the nozzles I messed with and didn't work out.

Old post about same thing.
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...ers-23356.html

Thanks
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Old 11-27-2023, 02:37 PM   #5
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.3
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THOR #28145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakeman View Post
Great Idea... a few years back I was looking at the same problem. And yes they are horrible. I was over thinking this..

I have scrap aluminum in the garage. Much easier than the nozzles I messed with and didn't work out.

Old post about same thing.
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f2...ers-23356.html

Thanks
I just redesigned the part where the extension attaches to the wiper arm so that it is not necessary to drill the wiper arm. I did this for two reasons. First I really did not like drilling the arm second, I found that having the extension directly over the wiper blade makes it nearly impossible to remove the wiper frame from the J hook. I got a length of 1/2" aluminum channel and cut a 1 1/4" length and drilled a number 6 sized hole. I put this on to the back side of the wiper arm with a little dab of clear gorilla glue to keep the extension from moving then I put the extension on with a #6 x 3/4" stainless Machine screw washers and nylon lock nut. Whie tightening the machine screw I rotated the extension do that it was as far above the tje wiper frame as possible.
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Old 11-27-2023, 06:37 PM   #6
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Model: Hurican 34P
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Posts: 149
THOR #17588
Have you done a "road" test yet? Does the extension arm bounce around or move?
My windshield is much larger than yours. Curious if aerodynamics now play a roll at 55 mph? Thanks
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Old 11-27-2023, 07:09 PM   #7
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Model: ACE 30.3
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THOR #28145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cakeman View Post
Have you done a "road" test yet? Does the extension arm bounce around or move?
My windshield is much larger than yours. Curious if aerodynamics now play a roll at 55 mph? Thanks
Nothing that I have noticed up to 60MPH. The extension does not bounce around on the arm, the concern would be if the extension causes the arm to lift off the windshield at speed. My RV came with 32" blades and those were more affected by wind. I now have 28" blades and those do not rattle around so much. I will do my first trip with the modification in January, and I'll see how it handles 70MPH.
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Old 11-27-2023, 07:16 PM   #8
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 30.3
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THOR #28145
Quote:
Originally Posted by galOnTheGo View Post
how much will you sell me a kit for?
Still working on the design. If I am going to sell it, it needs to be as flawless as possible.
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Old 11-29-2023, 08:04 PM   #9
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Nice job thanks for sharing!
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