Anyone tried a YJ wiper conversion?

[Grantshire]

I have seen the writeup and pictures of a CJ wiper conversion on a M715. I know they are considered an "upgrade" but CJ wipers are pretty crappy as wipers go and replacement blades and arms can be hard to find. Many CJ guys use YJ tubs and windshield to replace their rusted out CJ parts because they are so close to stock and are more readily available.

Soooo.... how about YJ wipers? CJ and YJ wipers parts are not interchangeable and the linkage goes back and forth on a CJ versus circular on a YJ. However, linkage is very close, they mount similarly to the windshield frame, and the arms are close to the same length. Pretty sure the hole through the windshield is slightly larger on a YJ and 2 speed motors are 4 wire rather than 3 but the 4th wire is just a ground. I measured a YJ windshield frame I have last night and the YJ wiper holes are 22.5" apart versus 23" in the M715. All of this leads me to believe they may be a candidate for our trucks but I have not tried it. Has anyone adapt them to a M715 windshield?

[brute4c]

I know it has been done...Drew...aka Mud'og here on the site has done it...it is listed on his page, but no real details I can see.

http://homepage.mac.com/m715/jeep/index.html

I know he posted about it here in the past...might have been lost or might be in the archives...I dont think it woud be on this current board...

He has gone by mudog, drew715, mud'og...might have been another variant...I would try the old m715zone.com archive and the old yaho achives linked at the bottom of the Online Maintenance Manuals page.

[alosix]

I built a set (just have to shorten the section arm). but right after I painted it and before I installed it I lost the darn plastic nuts that held them on.

Guess I need to get a set of those now.

[randyscycle]

Fast forward to now.......

I did the YJ wiper conversion on Grantshire's truck. Well, actually on the windshield frame I'll be installing shortly. In doing so, I found it a lot easier to weld the original passenger side wiper arm hole shut and redrill it in the proper place. This way there is no mod to the linkage and replacement parts are an off-the shelf affair. I did also weld the brackets I made for the motor to the windshield frame so you can easily bolt and unbolt the motor if it ever needs replacement. It fits very well, works very well, and the motor does not hang down to interfere with the field of vision. Plus, you can now get wiper arms too.

Once I am finished with this one I will be doing mine the same way.

[Arch8]

And hopefully you'll document it for the rest of us boneheads. Who doesn't want better wipers?

[alosix]

I'm finding this amusing that other guys are using this setup. They only reason I tried it was because we were stripping a YJ for a competition and it was sitting next to the truck.

The wiper setup sat on the floor for a while and I'd walk by it daily when working on one of the trucks.

One day we were like.. Hey that might work for wipers and mocked it up. Just pure chance, no real thought behind it other than the parts were lying around.

[wrecker]

I'm quite fond of the funkadelic vacuum relics. It would be nice to see though...

[randyscycle]

I'm quite fond of the funkadelic vacuum relics.

I thought they were quaint too, until I actually got caught in the rain and had to use them.

I will try to get that mod posted up here before the weekend.

[wrecker]

Randy, I currently have a windshield frame off that I'm goint to refurbish and repaint. Now would be a great time to do the electric wipers. Can you post some pics or some more details? I'm guessing if I go pull the entire get up off a YJ it would become clear what needs to be done.

[randyscycle]

I didn't get those pics uploaded before heading out of town this morning, but I'll do it when I get back home on Tuesday.