Wiper motor wire insulation

darth_linux

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The Prestolite variable speed wiper motor on my 66 Newport seems to be hardwired. I really wanted to take this off and get it to the bench for a good cleanup and refresh, but now it looks like I’m gonna be stuck doing just a basic cleaning and putting it back. Any tips?

IMG_4682.jpeg
 
The splices on the motor are original.
There's something I never realized, although I think I have seen the splices, but figured it was a repair. I had to do a search because I had to see another...

Are there specific years or applications for the spliced wire motors?


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The motor cleaned up pretty nicely, but where the splices are, the fabric covering the bare wire section is basically gone. How can I re-insulate these without complete disassembly?

IMG_4683.jpeg


IMG_4684.jpeg
 
Yes, the wiring on my motor was also ugly. Could very easily short out going into the case because of the missing insulation. I don't think they were very pretty even when new.
 
Yes, the wiring on my motor was also ugly. Could very easily short out going into the case because of the missing insulation. I don't think they were very pretty even when new.
I'm thinking of just cutting off the white insulation, clipping the wire, adding new insulation, and then redoing the splice. I'm not worried about correct appearance, but I am worried about wires shorting out.
 
Get the brush on electrical tape. Basically a paint on rubber coating.

There's something I never realized, although I think I have seen the splices, but figured it was a repair. I had to do a search because I had to see another...

Are there specific years or applications for the spliced wire motors?


View attachment 727988
Here is a 1970 motor with black splices. Made Fall of 69

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Now that I see it, I have seen the splices with black insulation (heat shrink?).
The splices are part of the construction of the 3-speed and early variable speed variation of that wiper motor. The leads exiting the motor are the solid core internal motor winding wires, the splices transition to the stranded wire bulkhead connecter pigtail. Appears to be a early version of heat shrink tubing, mostly black that I’ve seen over the years. The splices can be cut and new insulation slipped over the wires, redo the splices. Would need to make sure not to mix-up the motor leads, original cloth insulators were color coded. For park switch connections, you can un-solder, slip on new insulation, re-solder.
Wiper motor1.jpeg

wiper motor 2.jpeg
 
I'm thinking of just cutting off the white insulation, clipping the wire, adding new insulation, and then redoing the splice. I'm not worried about correct appearance, but I am worried about wires shorting out.

Use an Xacto knife to cut the old stuff off, neatly cut the splices, use some shrink wrap long enough to cover your NEW splices and the bare conductor, splice, slide the shrink wrap down, heat. I'd do these one at a time, to avoid any possible wrong connection.

The liquid stuff might be easier if you're worried about messing things up.
 
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