Pleased with myself: wiper blade fix

[salar]

The wiper rubbers had split and replacement blades are about £14 each. Two of them are according to my calculator £28. Seems a lot to fix an inch or two of flappy wiper. So I ordered a set of wiper rubbers matching the profile from China via eBay, £2.50. Turns out there is enough to fix four blades. Saving of £26.75 on this job.

My question to the learned forum: my only slight concern is the original Vetus rubbers had a moulded indent to stop them slipping out of the little gripper at one end. The new blades don't have that but I have tightened the gripper down further at one end (only) to hold it in place. Will this be enough? Should I carve a nick to make sure or will this cause a split? Or is there an adhesive that will bond to the "rubber" (I think neoprene actually) to stop it working out of the grip? Or am I overthinking this and the grip will be enough?

 

[Boater Sam]

They will likely walk out but to stop this we used to push a pin through the rubber behind the last grips, left hand end of your pix.

 

[lynallbel]

You can also get refills with a plastic bit on the entire length so you only have to nip one end and it stays fixed.
i am not sure what size your wipers are? but land rover defender ones are small and cheap, even if toy big you could cut the rubbers/stainless bits down to fit nicely.
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90/110/130 WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADES 13" (PAIR) - DKC000110PMD | eBay

 

[rich]

I used to sell and fit wipers at my garage, I gave up using replacement rubber refills, to many complaints of not working properly,
the metal or plastic holders after time wear out and don’t flop side to side.

 

[RichardS]

I agree that rubber strip is a cheap alternative to new blades and I've been buying the same strip rubber in Halfords for the last 40 years. The Halfords strips come with clips which you use to hold the new rubber in place. I bought some yesterday for the Triumph.

I did wonder about making the conversion to Aerotwins but decided that the floppy stuff wouldn't suit the image of wipers which don't park and which need a hand operated pump for the washers.

Richard

 

[salar]

but land rover defender ones are small and cheap, even if toy big you could cut the rubbers/stainless bits down to fit nicely.
LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90/110/130 WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADES 13" (PAIR) - DKC000110PMD | eBay

Those blades look exactly the same as Vetus, complete with the bit that the gripper jaw fits into. Good price, thank you!

 

[salar]

I used to sell and fit wipers at my garage, I gave up using replacement rubber refills, to many complaints of not working properly,
the metal or plastic holders after time wear out and don’t flop side to side.

I agree - I'm expecting to replace the rubbers only a couple of times before having to replace the whole blade due to wear. Still a saving though!

 

[lynallbel]

I used to sell and fit wipers at my garage, I gave up using replacement rubber refills, to many complaints of not working properly,
the metal or plastic holders after time wear out and don’t flop side to side.

Agree not much cop on curved glass, but large truck and flat screens they work well.

 

[lynallbel]

I agree that rubber strip is a cheap alternative to new blades and I've been buying the same strip rubber in Halfords for the last 40 years. The Halfords strips come with clips which you use to hold the new rubber in place. I bought some yesterday for the Triumph.

I did wonder about making the conversion to Aerotwins but decided that the floppy stuff wouldn't suit the image of wipers which don't park and which need a hand operated pump for the washers.

Richard

If by aerotwin you mean the newer blades with no visible pantograpgh bits? you might find the older wiper arms have not got the strength in them to make the wiper fully contact the glass over the entire sweep area.