No can do

[j4]

Spent half this lunchtime trying to fix pto452's windscreen wiper, with no success whatsoever. Adjusting the bolt at the base of the wiper arm seems to fix the problem momentarily (for about five 'wipes') but then the wiper goes back to falling off the side of the windscreen (and taking half the paint off as it does so).

I tried to do the cunning thing suggested to me by various uk.misc folk, where you use a strip of aluminium drinks can around the spindle to tighten it, but I can't seem to get the arm back on with the strip of metal around it -- it's just too tight. So I don't see how that can be the problem (or the solution).

In the end I decided that for the time being I'm just going to have to take the thing off; it's only the passenger-side windscreen wiper and it's more a distraction than a help to me at the moment.

Annoyed with myself for not being able to fix it though.

Comments

[j4.livejournal.com]

I'd imagine drinks can metal would be too thick, yes. Try tin foil - just wrap it round adding layers until it's thick enough to hold.

Well, the arm's not exactly loose on the spindle anyway... but I've come in today armed with tin foil, anyway, and will give that a go. At least today I won't need to borrow screwdrivers from IT (much to their bemusement).

Or, electrical tape (the PVC, slightly-stretchy stuff) might be better.

Oh, damn, I do have some of that, but I didn't remember you'd said this when I was looking for tin foil (which I did remember) this morning.
Oh well, will give tin foil a try.

Advice for squeaky fan belts also welcomed. :-) It feels like it's at the right sort of tension to me, so I don't know if I should be tightening it or loosening it or something else entirely.

I wish I wasn't so incompetent. :-/

[brrm.livejournal.com]

Advice for squeaky fan belts also welcomed

Squeaking generally means it's loose, yes. Try to turn the fan by hand - if it slips easily, then it's too loose. So tighten it up a bit, but not too much, or apparently it wears out the water pump bearings.

Just shout if you want to book me for a service :) . My weekends are all free at the moment, I think. Oh, and it'd be nice to see you. :)

[j4.livejournal.com]

Just shout if you want to book me for a service

You're offering to service pto452, right? ;)

My weekends are all free at the moment, I think.

I'm afraid mine are anything but -- No free weekends left this year now! I'm sorry ... I do too much. :-/ It would be nice to see you though; we'll have to organise something in the New Year.

[brrm.livejournal.com]

You're offering to service pto452, right? ;)

Why, is there anything else I'm qualified to service? ;)

My weekends are all free at the moment, I think.

Yes, that'd be nice. I'll be in Cambridge immediately after NY (1st or 2nd till 5th, or something like that). But maybe that's too soon for you?