Improving Wiper Blade Contact

[Bpwicks]

2011 Ranger 27. Recently replaced wiper blades with OEM. Contact with glass is now sub-optimal. Any suggestions on how to improve contact? I’ve given consideration to just bending the blade arms but this seems a bit crude.
Thanks for any advice.
Brian

 

[Red Raven]

The pivot joint where the arm mounts to the motor gets gummed up with salt to the point where the spring cannot overcome the friction.

Remove the grey/silver plastic covers of the joint and toss them. They will likely break on removal anyway and they just collect salt. Use a spray bottle with water or Salt Off in the joint while working the arm back an forth until the salt is all dissolved and the arm moves freely enough for the spring to apply sufficient force to hold the wiper to the glass. Spray the joint literally with a good quality lubricant to make it last until the next maintenance effort. Do this at least annually though every couple months may be necessary.

Curt

 

[Kevin Lamont]

I agree with Curt above, sometimes it is a good idea to add that to the list of annual checks and service.

Thanks,

 

[SLyle01]

Doesn't help on newer RT27: The curved glass is great looking, but impossible to clean with FM stock wipers. Pretty much useless. Use Rain-X!

 

[Bpwicks]

Thanks to all for the help. I will clean up the hinges and get some Rain-X as well
Brian

 

[jpdewitt]

We have a 2012 R 29 S. Have same issue of poor blade contact with windshield. Read the many posts related to this issue and cleaned out the arm joint and this helped but did not solve the problem. I ordered new springs from IMTRA but have not had a chance to see if that helped or fixed the issue. Will report out results when we are next boating in the rain.

John & Della
Sunny Tug
Pensacola, FL
R29 S

 

[jpdewitt]

Installed new springs and it helped with three of the four wiper contacts. Not the solution I had hoped for but better than what I had.

JD
29 Ranger
Sunny Tug

 

[JVSequoia]

Spray some CorrosionX on the arm pivot joint and actuate several times. It will loosen up significantly and resist salt buildup.

 

[Submariner]

Use the ceramic coating hyraserum or rain-x. That’s what we do. Water sheds off the glass and we don’t use our wipers.

 

[Seakr25]

I have cleaned the wiper joints as mentioned above on my 2008 R25 and I have also coated the windshields with hydrophobic coating ... rain-x I believe but dont quote me on that. 90% of the time that is enough without wipers and the wipers when needed work a LOT better after having the arms serviced.